PM wants Ehsaas Programme expanded as World Bank doubles aid

Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr Sania Nishter to devise a comprehensive strategy for the expansion of Ehsaas Programme.

The directives were made as the premier was told on Monday that the World Bank doubled its assistance for the programme, calling the initiative a “flagship programme of social safety” and a model for other states.

World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine praised measures adopted by the government to fight climate change. The WB head hailed Pakistan’s initiatives to go for environment-friendly energy resources, saying Pakistan’s commitment to generating electricity through environment-friendly and renewable energy sources is appreciable and a very responsible step to protect the climate.

A couple of months ago, Dr Sania Nishtar represented Pakistan at an online event,  ‘End Poverty Day 2020: Surmounting Setbacks’ during the annual meetings arranged by the World Bank to highlight current challenges to poverty reduction and the urgency of redoubling the efforts to end poverty.

The event focused on a fast, broad-based response to Covid-19 to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response and health care systems.  World Bank Managing Director for Operations Axel van Trotsenburg and the key personnel from across the world were the participants.