Mardan
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Safety and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar on Monday said over 70 percent of the Ehsaas Kifalat Programme survey has been completed to enroll about seven million poor people to bring them under the social safety net.
Addressing a press conference here, Dr Sania Nishtar said Ehsaas Kifalat Programme survey was underway in Khyber Pakthunkhwa being completed with assistance of teachers, police, district administration and officials of social welfare department.
Currently, she said, about four million poor people including orphans, widows, special children and women were being provided financial assistance under Ehsaas Programme and this assistance would be increased up to seven million poor people after completion of this survey in the country.
She said new lists of eligible beneficiaries were being prepared under transparent mechanism and maintained that more poor and vulnerable persons would also be included in the Ehsaas Kifalat Programme. She clarified that no deserving person would be expelled from this programme.
She said all survey data was being digitalized and information of beneficiaries would be available on a single click. To a question, she dispelled the impression that the funds were being received from foreign donors, adding all funds for Ehsaas Progamme were being provided from Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan. The PM aide said poor schools, colleges and universities students were also being provided scholarship so that they could continue their studies without facing financial problems and contribute in the process of national development. Dr Sania said she had visited Mardan Women University today where 140 poor students were being provided scholarship under Ehsaas Kifalat Programme and was pleased to see increased number of girls students in the university.—APP
