Ehsaas programme: PM to announce interest-free loan scheme by end-June: Sania Nishtar

Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate interest free loan scheme in the last week of this month and 80,000 people will get interest free loans every month under this programme, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Welfare Sania Nishtar. Speaking at a news conference here Sunday, Sania Nishtar also announced that the amount for social protection under Ehsaas programme is being doubled in the upcoming budget, as it is important to bring marginalised segments into mainstream.
She said that survey continues across the country to identify recipients of Ehsaas programme. She said that integrated reforms are being introduced in Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and a new payment mechanism will also be brought by October this year. She said that the government has also responded to the fake SMSs to the people under the BISP and many involved in this practice have been arrested and given punishments.
At present, she said that there are 115 policies on which work is under way and it will be increased in the future which will ensure to make the process transparent and also to make it sure that the grassroots level is also involved in policy making of the government.
She said that the government, while allowing certain areas for hunting to foreign dignitaries, should also ensure to spend the money earned through the hunting on the social welfare of the local communities. Similarly, she said that before allowing high-rise buildings in any Kachai Abadi, the government should make it sure that the inhabitants of that are registered before allowing such high-rise buildings.
She said that under these programmes, it will also be made sure that common man is also made member of the town committees, municipal committees, market committees and etc, adding that these should not be constituted on political grounds.
She said that Ehsaas programme has been developed while keeping in view the principles of state of Madinah, adding that the amount for social protection will be doubled in the upcoming budget. She said that poor women will be given mobile phones and bank accounts as part of increasing financial literacy. She said that Tahaffuz is the precision safety net of the government of Pakistan aimed at people who suffer unexpected financial problems in life.
Nisahr said under the Asset Transfer Scheme of Ehsas programme, sewing machines and agricultural tools will be provided to the poor segments of the society. She said better education, health and nourishment of children related policies will be formed to increase human capital in the country. She said implementation of Ehsass programme is prime agenda of the government which will be achieved through coordination among 26 departments and all provinces.
She said that government will also implement structural reforms to make the institutions nonpolitical and audit departments will be strengthened. She said that almost 7 million women will be given monthly scholarships, bank saving accounts and mobile handsets to manage their accounts under Tahaffuz programme. She said that the opening of the bank accounts will start in October this year and the handset policy will also be initiated this year.
She said that any registered person can contact government for emergency help via an SMS which will be provided in next 48 hours under Tahaffuz programme. This will be launched in September this year and it will gradually extended to other cities as well, she added. She said laborers and workers will be provided social security and EOBI privileges and all allied departments will be strengthened in this regard. She said that the special persons will be given free of cost wheal chairs and other artificial lambs.