Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated the commitment to make Pakistan a truly welfare state on the pattern of State of Madina.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Ehsaas Riayat Rashan Program in Islamabad on Monday.

The Prime Minister assured to uplift and extend more support to the deprived segments of the society with increase in tax collection.

As regards Ehsaas Riayat Rashan Program, the Prime Minister said it is aimed at reducing the burden of inflation on the weak segments.

He said under this program, two million deserving families will be provided with monthly thirty percent subsidy on the purchase of wheat flour, pulses and cooking oil. He said Pakistan is still ranked amongst one of the cheapest countries in the world.

He said prices of petrol and diesel in Pakistan are lower as compared to Dubai and other countries of the sub-continent.

Referring to various initiatives of Ehsaas program, the Prime Minister pointed out that 98 percent of disbursements are going into the hands of women in order to economically empower them. He said stipend and scholarships being provided under Ehsaas are also higher for the girls than the boys.

Imran Khan said helping the poor is the best aspect of humanity and is in line with the commandments of Almighty and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

The Prime Minister said the country could not prosper unless the resources were invested for the uplift of women, particularly their education and health.

He urged the public to pay taxes and vowed that all such money would be spent on their welfare and development.

Imran Khan said the government’s national health insurance programme is a major step in facilitating the common man in getting free medical treatment.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar said the first phase of registration for Ehsaas Riayat Rashan Program has been completed and messages are being sent to 9.2 million deserving families in a phased manner to avail the targeted subsidy through four thousand utility stores.

She said the registration of retail stores is also continuing so that the deserving families can avail the targeted subsidy through them.

Sania Nishtar said the Ehsaas programme continued without any break during the pandemic to provide financial support to the deserving segment of society.

Earlier, 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.

Source: Radio Pakistan