Minister distributes cheques among 53 families

Says govt looks forward to working with all stakeholders to fulfill the promise of eradicating poverty

LAHORE: The ‘Ehsaas’ initiative was the biggest programme for the poor ever launched in the country, said Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs (HR&MA) Ejaz Alam Augustine.

He stated this during a loan disbursement ceremony organised by Akhuwat Foundation at the Living Stone Church, Okara on Saturday.

After distributing cheques of over Rs1.5 million among 53 deserving families, the provincial minister said that the government looks forward to working with all stakeholders including public, private, civil society, philanthropists and expatriate Pakistanis to fulfill the promise of lifting millions of people out of poverty.

In Pakistan, millions more to fall below poverty line

“Building a strong foundation together for a stronger, safer and successful Pakistan is our priority.” He added that through micro-financing, the aim of the government was to alleviate poverty by empowering socially and economically marginalised segments of society through interest-free micro-finance and education.

An Akhuwat official, in his address, said that major objectives of micro-credit scheme were to stop the exploitation of the poor, provide small loans to poor people and empower women. On the occasion, Pastor Waqas Moazzam, representatives of Akhuwat Foundation and representatives of minority communities were present.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2020.