ISLAMAABD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat unanimously recommended that keeping the public representatives on board would ensure transparency and efficacy of the poverty alleviation initiatives taken by the government.

The committee also recommended facilitating the deserving segments of the society with least possible restrictions as passports holders are out of data for getting support and suggested to complete the process of the current national data about household poverty at the earliest.

The committee met with Kishwer Zehra in the chair at the Parliament House on Wednesday.

The chair, Kishwer Zehra stressed that legislative initiative for the welfare of the destitute would bring relief for the most deserving segment of the society.

Dr Sania Nishter, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Initiatives, briefed the committee about government's special initiative, the Ehsaas Programme.

She briefed about Ehsaas Kafalat, Ehsaas Interest-Free Loan, Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship, Ehsaas Langarkhanna, and Shelter Homes.

She told the Committee that 70 lac women benefited from Ehsaas Kafalat Programme and almost Rs29 billion in interest-free loans was given from which 45 percent women and 60 percent women have gained support from the Ehsaas Amdin Programme.

She also briefed the Committee that 50,700 students were supported from Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Programme.

She briefed the Committee members that before 31st December 2020 national-level household survey on poverty would be completed.

The committee unanimously appreciated the services of the ministry on poverty alleviation and social safety.

The chair especially raised the matter of recent flooding in Daddu district.

The representative of NDMA informed that it was not expected.

He also informed that chairman NDMA will himself inform the committee soon about a complete plan to tackle the issues of rain and flood especially in Karachi as a Complete Plan is under process as per directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The Committee meeting was attended by MNAs; Ali Nawab Awan, Uzma Riaz, Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Seema Mohiuddin Jameeli, Raza Rabani Khar, Ghulam Ali Talpur, Mohsin Dawar, Dr Sania Nishter, Special Assistant to the PM on Poverty Alleviation, and MD Baitul Mal and other officers of the concerned departments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020