ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan to launch an unprecedented povertyalleviation initiative across Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Ehsaas asset (Aamdan) programworth Rs. 15 billion on Friday (Feb 21), which will benefit people in 375rural councils of the 23 poorest districts in the country.
The program is one of several under the Ehsaas umbrella and will createearning opportunities for the deserving.
The government will be giving away small “assets” to those who live belowthe poverty line so that they can earn a living. Assets include livestock(goats, cows, buffaloes, and poultry), agricultural inputs, the body ofChingchi rickshaws, and inputs for small retail outlets and smallenterprises.
It is commencing in 375 rural Union Councils in 23 of the poorest districtsacross the four provinces of Pakistan. The program has set a target ofproviding around 200,000 assets to the deserving households (60% women and30% youth beneficiaries). The scale of the program will be enhanced basedon initial results.
This program is complimentary to Ehsaas Kafaalat, which commenced onJanuary 31, 2020. The government provides cash stipends of Rs. 2000 to 7million most deserving women by the end of the year through this program.Beneficiaries for both Ehsaas Kafaalat and Ehsaas Asset program wereidentified through a survey using the Poverty Score Card.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), which is an organization attachedto the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division, is the leadimplementing agency for the Ehsaas Amdan program and is working throughpartner organizations that have a strong presence in the selected districts.
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Community procurement processes have been established by PPAF to ensuretransparency and accountability in the identification, selection andprocurement of all assets and/or vocational skills training. Beneficiariesthat require vocational training are supported to attend courses offered bycertified technical training institutes. Training on asset utilization andbusiness planning is also provided to eligible household members to helpthem turn their assets into an economically productive enterprise.
According to the press release, asset recipient households are alsosupported to access the Ehsaas interest-free loans if they are available intheir area and if they believe they require additional financing forbusiness enhancement.
Beneficiaries are identified through a community engagement process in the375 Union councils and villages of 23 districts where this program hasbegun. Districts in Punjab where this program is commencing include DeraGhazi Khan, Jhang, and Layyah, read the press release.
In KP there are 10 districts (Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, Palas Kolai,Torghar, Batagram, Shangla, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Dera IsmailKhan, Tank). In Balochistan, there are three districts: Jhal Magsi, Zhob,and Sherani. In Sindh, the districts include Badin, Thatta, Sujawal,Kashmore, Shikarpur, Tharparkar and Umerkot.
