ISLAMABAD – Chairperson Ehsaas Program and Special Assistant to PrimeMinister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar saidthat the government will provide social protection to vulnerable segmentsof society through a number of programmes, the Radio Pakistan reported.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon, she saidthat despite current austerity drive of the government and voluntarydecision of many public sector institutions to not ask for more budget, thebudget allocated for social protection has been doubled.
Dr Sania said that social protection aims at measures for poorest of thepoor, those facing calamity and disabled people.
Dr Sania Nishtar said that surveys show that 2.5 percent population inPakistan is facing some sort of disability that is equivalent to 5 millionpeople. She said people registered with NADRA as disabled will be issuedHealth Insaaf Cards in order to provide them free health facility.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection said under Ehsaasprogram, it has been decided that blind people will be provided free whitecans while those who are suffering a disability of legs will be providedfree wheelchairs. She said deaf people will be provided with free hearingaids.
Chairperson Ehsaas program said two percent quota in government jobs fordisabled people will be ensured. She said Prime Minister Imran Khan hastaken serious notice of not implementing this quota and directed to ensureit.
Dr Sania Nishtar said in Naya Pakistan Housing scheme, two percent quotahas also been reserved for disabled people. Besides, one percent quota hasbeen reserved for disabled people in government residences. PlanningCommission has issued a directive to all ministries to prepare disabilitysensitive PC-1s.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and PovertyAlleviation said it has been decided to establish centers in 20 depriveddistricts of the country where artificial limbs will be manufactured toprovide to people who become disabled.
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Dr Sania Nishtar said a new scheme for unemployed is being started in whicheighty thousand people will be given loans each month in order to starttheir own businesses. They will also be provided with assets andfacilitation in starting their businesses.
Dr Sania Nishtar said for poor students, a new undergraduate scheme isbeing launched in cooperation with HEC in which university and hostel feesof the undergrad students will be paid by the government. A voucher schemefor girl students in cooperation with provincial governments will also bestarted, in which parents will be given stipends to encourage them to sendtheir female children to school.
Sania Nishtar said in order to assist old pensioners, the monthly pensionof Employees Old Age Benefits Institution has been raised to 6500 rupees.On an experimental basis, Ehsaas houses will be constructed for oldpensioners.
She said a new policy aimed at introducing standards and benchmarks inexisting orphanages, as well as to increase their numbers, is also inoffing.
Chairperson Ehsaas program said the program has a special focus onlabourers and it will bring them into the fold of social protection. Theday labourers or people doing seasonal jobs will be registered in order tomake them eligible for social protection. She said a labour expert grouphas been constituted that meets twice weekly.
