ISLAMABAD: The government will soon start ‘Ehsaas Food Stamp Programme’ to provide direct subsidy to the deserving families on essential commodities as Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefed about the contours and features of the programme Monday.

While chairing a meeting with regard to providing direct subsidy to the deserving and poor families on purchase of essential commodities including food items, the prime minister directed Dr Sania Nishtar, the special assistant to the prime minister on poverty alleviation, to finalize the mechanism of proposed programme – Ehsaas Food Stamp Programme – so that the subsidy cane be provided to the deserving families on essential commodities at the earliest.

The government’s foremost priority is to ensure fair and transparent system for provision of subsidy, the PM said, adding we are striving with every effort to minimize the impact of price hike on the poor people.

He said that it is the responsibility of the government to provide relief to deserving people and it is fully cognizant of its responsibility and will go to any extent to fulfill it.

Earlier, the prime minister was given a detailed briefing about the proposed Ehsaas Food Stamp Programme. Dr Nishtar informed the meeting that under this programme, direct subsidy would be provided to the poor people for purchase of essential commodities. She said that the subsidy would be provided in the most transparent manner.

The prime minister appreciated the proposed programme and directed the authorities concerned to finalize the mechanism and statistics regarding it so that it could be launched at the earliest.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021