Rolling out Pakistan's Largest Welfare Programme: The Ehsaas Programme

Rolling out Pakistan's Largest Welfare Programme: The Ehsaas Programme

A program described by the World Bank as a ‘role model for other countries’ and a success by the United Nations, the Ehsaas Programme is the largest welfare and largest poverty alleviation program in Pakistan’s history. It was planned, funded and launched by Imran Khan’s government on March 27, 2019, it comprises of 16 different social safety net and poverty reduction programs, the largest of which has served over 100 million Pakistanis by providing free cash during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It has received widespread appraisal from international organizations worldwide. The program was founded to fulfill a promise that PTI made, that PTI’s priority will forever be the welfare of the people of Pakistan. 

The Imran Khan government outlined its goals for Ehsaas as a care and social protection program as well as a big step in the direction of turning Pakistan into a welfare state as outlined by the Constitution of Pakistan, where the government fully serves the people, and not the other way around. Ehsaas is so big, it comprises of 16 of its own large welfare programs, and each has served millions. Due to the large scale of Ehsaas, this reading will just be a summary of Imran Khan’s accomplishments by establishing the Ehsaas Welfare Programs.

The program is designed for the most vulnerable in society: the destitute, orphans, widows, those without shelter, the differently-abled, individuals facing medical financial hardships, the unemployed, struggling farmers, laborers, those in poor health or malnourished, students from financially-challenged backgrounds, underprivileged women, and senior citizens. Additionally, it aims to uplift regions with pronounced poverty levels. In the COVID-19 Pandemic more than 13 million lower class people were granted monthly cash funds, free of interest or charge. One of the programs largest sub-program is Ehsaas Kalafat which served over 10 million people across Pakistan in Imran Khan’s government. 

Sehat Insaf Card:
Besides the Ehsaas welfare programme, Imran Khan launched the Sehat Insaf Card in 2019, as an expansion of the Sehat Sahulat Program. The Insaf card is Pakistan’s first and only universal free healthcare scheme, that too available countrywide. Imran Khan planned to expand the Sehat Insaf Card to bring Pakistan as a nation with universal free healthcare, though in 2022 his government was illegally removed by the PDM in an attempt to hide their own corruption charges. Imran Khan planned to bring provincial-scale free healthcare in Punjab, but the PTI government was removed unconstitutionally, though in KPK Imran Khan has been successful and it is the first and only province in Pakistan with universally available free healthcare. In summary, the Sehat Insaf Card is designed to help the sick and ill by providing a universal free healthcare system via countrywide clinics accessible through an identity card.

The reason that Imran Khan was able to roll out such large welfare programs when the world was amid a financial crisis because of COVID-19, was due to his austerity drive, in which he sold bureaucracy owned luxury cars and mansions, and used the money to improve Pakistanis’ day-to-day lives with the Ehsaas welfare system.

Programs:

Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program: One of the largest of the Ehsaas program family, providing emergency cash assistance for Pakistani families with financial issues especially amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, still open for cash assistance today. The PTI Government launched the Ehsas emergency cash program during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary purpose was to provide instant relief to the people of Pakistan. It has helped a lot of families with emergency cash during the crisis. In the second phase of the Ehsaas cash program(which is present till now), financial aid of Rs 14000 is given to the beneficiaries. This support has proven to be a game changer for the lower segment of society. This program is like a ray of sunshine for many in the lower class, truly making it a landmark initiative in the country’s history.

Ehsaas Panaah Gah: Panagah is one of the most important programmes launched by Imran Khan, Panagahs not only provide shelter to daily wage earners but also a two-time meal to them.
The concept of Panagah emerges from Imran Khan’s vision of compassion to facilitate the destitute and helpless people, while upholding their self-respect. As part of the initiative, Ehsaas has opened model Panagahs in different parts of the country. New Panagahs are also being built with improved infrastructure and service standards. In collaboration with Serena Hotels, specialized training is being provided to Panagah staff for improving quality standards. Drawing on proper need assessment, these shelter homes have been established in low-income neighborhoods and the residential areas of migrant workers to reach maximum number of labourers. Panagahs provide one star+ bed and breakfast facility with meals, essentials, hygiene and security standards.

Ehsaas Kafaalat: The Ehsaas Kafalat program was initiated to provide eligible women with monthly cash stipends and bank accounts, prioritizing helping underpriveleged widows and vunerable women. Beneficiaries receive PKR 2,000 per month, which is transferred directly through a biometric verification system, ensuring transparency and minimizing leakages.

Ehsaas Scholarships: A large scale free scholarship program promoting education for the youth. The program involves merit-based scholarships to allow students from low-income families to pursue undergraduate degrees. It aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing educational opportunities that can lead to better economic prospects.

Ehsaas Cash Assistance for Women: This branch of the Ehsaas Programme was founded to greatly reduce pay gaps and less rights regarding women’s access to cash assistance and resources.

Ehsaas Free Atta: The PTI Punjab provincial government started a free atta (wheat) scheme that has focused on the needy people and those who have low than 60,000 income. This branch of the Ehsaas program has started to make it easy for people to fulfill their basic by getting free atta.

Other major subprograms include: Ehsaas Aamdan, Ehsaas Petrol Card, Ehsaas Ration Riyaat, Ehsaas Taleemi Wazif.

Other key steps taken by Imran Khan’s government include making the Benazir Income Support Programme a part of the Poverty Alleviation and Social Security Division to put a greater focus by the government of Pakistan towards welfare and poverty reduction.

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