Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Naya Pakistan card initiative to bring welfare programmes under one umbrella. Through this one card, people can avail beneficiaries of various relief programmes. This card covers Ehsaas Ration Programme, Sehat Card, Kisan card and scholarship programmes for students.
The incumbent government had introduced many welfare programmes for the people. Recently, the PM announced the Ehsaas Food subsidy scheme, the country’s largest subsidy package worth Rs 120 billion. This programme provided a 30% discount on essential food items like cooking oil, pulses, and flour to give relief to the 130 million middle-income families. Besides this, the Kamyaab Pakistan scheme was also started under which 2 million eligible families can receive Rs2.7 million loan for house construction and free health insurance.
The coronavirus pandemic hit the country’s economy hard, with economic growth slowing to 0.53 percent in 2020. Food inflation for core commodities has been particularly high, resulting in spiralling consumer price inflation (CPI) which badly affected the low-income households. The Government has decided to expand welfare spending to address unemployment and poverty, disbursing 179 billion rupees ($1.06bn) in grants to low-income families.
The Naya Pakistan project is a part of the Prime Minister’s vision that focuses especially on the financially underserved and middle-income communities to provide a respectable living.
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