On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Ehsaas Riyayat Ration Scheme aimed at providing a monthly subsidy of 30 percent on daily use items to 20 million households. Under the targeted subsidy for the poor and middle class, the prices of flour, cooking oil, ghee and pulses will be considerably reduced.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said helping the poor was the best aspect of humanity and was in line with the commandments of Almighty and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).
Read more: World Bank grants $600 million for expansion of Ehsaas Program
PM expressed satisfaction with Ehsaas Welfare program
He expressed satisfaction that the socio-welfare programme of Ehsaas provided financial assistance to deserving people in the pandemic, which was acknowledged internationally.
وزیراعظم کے احساس پروگرام کے تین سال مکمل:
احساس کامیابی سے تین سال مکمل کرچکا ہے۔ وزیراعظم کی سربراہی میں احساس کی چھتری تلے متعدد سماجی تحفظ و تخفیف غربت کے پروگرام جاری ہوئے۔ بمطابق احساس پالیسی، پروگرام کا98فیصد بجٹ خواتین کیلیئے مختص ہے۔#Ehsaas3Years pic.twitter.com/dkTuGMwijc— Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety (@MOPASSPK) March 7, 2022
The prime minister praised the progress made by the Ehsaas initiative, which aims to reduce poverty in the country. PM Imran Khan stated that needy women received 98 percent of the cash support provided under the Ehsaas programme.
He claimed that the country could not flourish until resources were allocated to women’s empowerment, notably in the areas of education and health. The prime minister asked citizens to pay their taxes, promising that all funds will be used for their welfare and development.
He furthur claimed that despite the rise in global oil prices, the rate of commodities in Pakistan was still lower than the rest of the globe. He added that the government just announced a significant subsidy on gasoline and diesel for consumer relief.
Imran Khan said the government’s national health insurance scheme was a huge step toward making free medical treatment more accessible to the general public. Senator Sania Nishtar, the PM’s Special Assistant on Social Welfare, said the Ehsaas initiative has completed three years of success while adhering to the principles of transparency.
In a tweet on Sunday, Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that the scheme would initially benefit roughly 2 million people by providing a 30 percent monthly subsidy on food products. He said that the distribution of cash assistance of Rs. 71 billion under the Ehsas Kifalat scheme would also start from Monday.
Read more: PM launches “Koi Bhuka Na Soye” under Ehsaas program
Registration can be done through Ehsaas online portal
Regarding the modalities of the recently launched Ehsas Ration Program, Dr. Sania said that the ministry provides step-by-step guidance to deserving families and grocery traders adding that the survey will identify the beneficiaries.
She went on to say that low-income families will register on the portal with their computerized National Identity Card number and the mobile number issued on it and only one member of the family will be eligible to register on the portal.
Nishtar also warned people to beware of any fake SMS or phone call and appealed to the media to provide maximum information to the public about the website in connection with the ration discount program.
Read more: World Bank doubles its assistance for Ehsaas Program
She stated that the entire world is experiencing an economic crisis as a result of the Coronavirus, and that Prime Minister Imran Khan is doing everything possible to help people overcome their financial difficulties, adding that the ration discount programme will help control inflation and solve economic issues.