Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Social Protection andPoverty Alleviation, Dr. Sania Nishtar, announced on Monday that thegovernment has expanded the Ehsaas Nashonoma Program (ENP) by addingincrements to the monthly allowances of children living in harsh conditions.

Delegating an audience of foreign missions, and representatives of aninternational monetary institution and UN agencies in District JamrudKhyber, Dr. Nishtar maintained that the ENP project is fully committed tonurturing poor children, for which funds are being provided by the Ministryof Finance.——————————

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While discussing healthy diet regimens for the poor children and women inthe underdeveloped areas of Pakistan, the SAPM said that allowances andfood packets are dispensed to pregnant and nursing women every threemonths. She added,

It is a political programme under which the poor children, irrespective oftheir parents’ political affiliations, castes and color are beingbenefitted.

She also announced that that the government has increased regular ENPallowances to Rs. 1,500 for boys and Rs. 2,000 for girls for the next twoyears, and that the ENP has been extended to the newly merged tribaldistricts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.——————————

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Representatives and heads of foreign missions, and the representatives ofthe monetary institution and the UN agencies had personally requested towitness the ENP in action.

The ENP is a state-run initiative that is being run entirely on thegovernment’s budget and does not invite foreign assistance.