World Bank has doubled its assistance for Ehsaas Program, Prime Minister Imran Khan was informed yesterday during a meeting with Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Security, and Najy Benhassine, the Country Director for World Bank. This enhancement would provide social security to the maximum deserving people.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested Special Assistant Dr. Sania Nishtar to develop a detailed expansion strategy for Ehsaas Program. Najy Benhassine said that the Ehsaas Program is “a flagship program of social safety” and following it would benefit many other countries as well. He also lauded Imran Khan’s efforts towards tackling climate change by his commitment to using renewable energy sources to generate electricity instead of coal.
About the Ehsaas Program
The Ehsaas program, launched on April 1st, 2020, offers financial support to millions of families hit by the pandemic. The Ehsaas Amdan (Income) program involves giving away small “assets” to those who live below the poverty line so that they can earn a living and escape from the shackles of poverty. Local media reports that this is the “biggest and boldest program” ever launched in Pakistan to uplift marginalized people.
Read more: Naya Pakistan: PM Khan’s launches “Ehsaas” program for poor, women, and orphans
“The program has achieved the goal of successfully reaching out to millions of needy families across the country, making it an exceptional effort during this time of crisis,” reports Siasat News.
The IPC-IG’s conference titled ‘Turning the COVID-19 Crisis into Opportunity: What’s Next for Social Protection’, mentioned Pakistan’s effort via the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program in response to COVID-19 as “exemplary in the Asia Pacific region”.
The Policy Head of IPC-IG, Kathrin Oellers, while speaking at the conference, stated that countries like Pakistan that have pre-existing adaptive social protection programs have a better chance of reducing the devastating effects of COVID-19. The social protection program has been successful mainly because of its outreach and effective delivery system, confirms Siasat News.
She stated that since the repercussions of COVID-19 have unequally affected countries, social protection is a crucial tool to support the poorest and most vulnerable of those around the world.
In this regard, Prime Minister Khan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program was lauded. Further, the program has been termed exemplary for achieving the goal of successfully reaching out to millions of needy families across the country.
Read more: PM Khan’s dream realized: Ehsaas program takes extraordinary steps to help poor