Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar makes a strong rebuttal as PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal criticizes the former government for over-selling the reach of Ehsaas soup kitchens.
To clarify, Ehsaas is a social welfare program founded by Dr. Sania Nishtar during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Under the Ehsaas program, the PTI government launched a number of soup kitchens and shelters for the needy across the country. Furthermore, the PTI team also heavily campaigned for the Ehsaas program on social media.
Taking to Twitter, Ahsan Iqbal shared a list of Ehsaas anchorages in different cities in Pakistan. According to the list, there are allegedly only 19 Ehsaas “Langars” and Saylani Welfare provided food for all of them. As a result, Ahsan Iqbal lashed out at the previous government for acting as if it had provided a social safety net to all of Pakistan.
Read more: “Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye” closed down by PM Sharif
“During the rule of Imran Niazi, only 19 anchorages operated in the country, yet a big deal was made as if the net had been spread all over the country. Interestingly, Saylani (NGO) provides food to all of them. Borrowed resources but took the credit. The whole government was driven by social media propaganda,” Ahsan Iqbal tweeted.
Dr. Sania Nishtar’s rebuttal
The apparent dig did not go unnoticed by Dr. Sania Nishtar who hit back at Ahsan Iqbal in a series of tweets. She revealed that the Ehsaas team opened a total of 184 anchorages (anchorages in about 125 shelters, 19 anchors in Ehsas, and 40 truck anchors in Ehsas Koi Bhoka Na Suye) across the country on the special directives of Imran Khan.
وزیراعظم عمران خان کی خاص ہدایت پر پورے ملک میں 184لنگر کھولے گئے (تقریباََ 125پناہ گاہوں میں لنگر خانے، 19احساس لنگر خانے اور احساس کوئی بھوکا نہ سوئے کے 40ٹرک لنگر)۔روزانہ تقریباََ ایک لاکھ سے زائد مزدور و مستحق افراد مستفید ہوتے تھے۔1/3 https://t.co/vY44tYLo4u
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) April 18, 2022
As for the food provided in the soup kitchens by NGOs, Dr. Sania Nishta said that some of the anchorages ran on a public-private partnership based on mutual cooperation, and which is in accordance with the Ehsaas Langar Policy 2019.
کچھ لنگرخانوں میں پبلک پرائیوٹ پارٹنرشپ کے تحت کھانا کھلانے والے ٹرسٹ کے ساتھ باہمی تعاون کی بنیاد پر شراکت داری ہوئی تھی جس کی تفصیل احساس لنگر پالیسی میں درج ہے اور جو کہ احساس کی ویب سائٹ پر موجود ہے۔2/3https://t.co/JfM6zwZbLx pic.twitter.com/g0sXriOSkk
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) April 18, 2022
Lastly, Dr. Sania Nishtar reiterated the important role of Ehsaas shelters in society. She said Ehsaas shelters and soup kitchens did not take politics into account and provided laborers with two meals a day and a bed without hurting their self-esteem. Moreover, she added that religion also gives instructions to feed the deserving and the needy.
احساس لنگر خانوں اور پناہ گاہوں میں سیاست سے بالاتر ہو کر مزدور بھائیوں کو ان کی عزت نفس مجروح کیئے بغیر دو وقت کا کھانا اور بستر فراہم کیا جاتا تھا۔ ہمارے دین میں بھی مستحقین اور ضرورت مندوں کو کھانا کھلانے کی تلقین کی گئی ہے۔3/3 pic.twitter.com/uK78p2hmRZ
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) April 18, 2022
Important to note, PML-N has been very critical of Imran Khan’s welfare programs. According to PML-N’s Miftah Ismail, the federal government was losing around Rs2,500 million daily due to the economic ‘minefield’ left by the PTI government.
Read more: PM Imran Khan launches the Ehsaas Ration Discount Scheme