On Monday, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Social Protect and Poverty Alleviation revealed that the government has increased the monthly allowance for children living below the poverty line, under the Ehsaas Nashonoma Program.
Dr. Sania Nishtar was assisting UN agencies and an international monetary institution’s officials in District Jamrud Khyber, where she mentioned that the Ehsaas Nashonoma Program is committed to protecting and helping children living in poor living conditions. She also informed the foreign officials that the Ministry of Finance has been providing financial assistance for the Ehsaas Nashonuma Program.
Read more: PM Khan launches “Nashonuma” project to reduce malnutrition problem
When it comes to health, under the program, poor women and children, pregnant and nursing women are being provided with food packets and allowances every three months, specifically in the underdeveloped areas across the country, informed Dr. Sania Nishtar.
“It is a political program under which the poor children, irrespective of their parents’ political affiliations, castes, and color are being benefitted,” Dr. Nishtar added.
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She further went on to state that that the Ehsaas Nashonuma allowance has been increased for the coming two years, to Rs. 1500 for boys and Rs. 2000 for girls. The program has also reached the newly merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It was requested by the foreign representatives of the UN agencies and the international monetary institution to personally see the workings of the Ehsaas Nashonuma program.
Read more: Ehsaas Kafaalat Program to provide financial assistance to 7 million people
About Ehsaas Nashonuma Program
The Ehsaas Nahonuma Program, which is a cash transfer program was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan in August 2020. It aims to address the stunting and malnutrition in young children across the country. Other than malnutrition this program also seeks to cater to the food security problem persistent in Pakistan.
Under the program, the government provides stipends to mothers for two years after the birth of a child to ensure their nutrition and proper development.
Malnutrition has plagued a significant population in Pakistan ever since its inception. Significant steps such as these have not been taken before.
Read more: World Bank doubles its assistance for Ehsaas Program