Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Cabinet in its 25thmeeting was briefed on the Ehsaas programme.Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation was in the provincial capital, Peshawar for the briefing. Chief Minister KP, Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting. The aim of the meeting was to inform the KP Cabinet about the Ehsaas framework and begin to identify areas for coordination and collaboration.
Dr. Nishtar outlined details of Ehsaas programme and particularly stressed on areas which are relevant to federal - provincial partnerships. She described details of the Ehsaas programme that have already been implemented and described the ‘Ehsaas app’ which will soon be launched through which provincial stakeholders will be able to take part in execution of Ehsaas programme- stipends, interest free loans, undergraduate scholarships, langars etc. Dr. Nishtar also apprised them about the timelines of Ehsaas projects in the pipeline, yet to be executed. She explained to them about the National Socio-economic survey in detail as it will commence in KP soon and outlined how data will be collected. She then apprised them on the technology enabled integrity features which are an integral part of the survey.
Members of the Cabinet took keen interest in the survey and reiterated the importance of data correctness. Dr. Nishtar emphasized the need to implement the ‘Ehsaas Governance and Integrity Policy’. Chief Secretary KP informed the Cabinet that a three-member committee had been constituted which is reviewing the Ehsaas Governance and Integrity Policy and it will be brought to the KP Secretaries Committee before bringing it to the Cabinet and that it is highly likely that either in its entirety or elements of the policy will be embraced by the KP government. Dr. Nishtar also informed the Cabinet about the possible ‘Ehsaas Food Card Scheme’ for the newly merged districts in areas with severe nutritional insecurity.
Dr. Nishtar’s visit was widely appreciated by the Cabinet. This was the fourth provincial briefing that Dr. Nishtar has led on Ehsaas, following briefings in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab.
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