PAC lauds Ehsaas for financial transparency

The sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) lauded on Thursday Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr. Sania Nishtar for maintaining financial transparency in the government’s flagship social safety Ehsaas programme.

During the meeting of the sub-committee of PAC held at the headquarters of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr. Sania Nishtar briefed the committee members about all the sub-programs operating under the Ehsaas programme.

Dr. Sania Nishtar told the committee that programme was free of any political interference and that the authority to take decisions lies with the board.

The committee was told that the government had made major reforms in the BISP and took annual comparative review of the programme to ensure improvements.

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The programme, aimed at poverty alleviation and providing monetary assistance to the underprivileged segment of society, heads three types of programs, Dr. Sania apprised the committee. These included a pilot program and a national program.

Dr. Sania Nishtar said the government’s safety net also recently approved to include all transgender people in the country in its financial assistance under the Ehsaas Kifalat programme.

The board also approved enhancement of Ehsaas’ education stipends to secondary and higher secondary levels.

In an effort to encourage girls enrolment in secondary and higher secondary education, Ehsaas stipends for girls will be Rs4,000 per quarter as compared to boys who will get Rs3,500 per quarter.

Dr. Sania said the process of Ehsaas survey was also underway across the country with parallel establishments of one-window centres at the district level.

“The purpose of setting up this centre is to provide all facilities to Ehsaas consumers under one roof,” she said.