Govt prepares supply model for targeted subsidies

The government has prepared a new supply model for provision of targeted subsidies to 20 million families under the Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Programme.

The model, approved by Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Steering Committee, will help in provision of 30 percent discounts on wheat flour, pulses, cooking oil and ghee to 20 million families.

Chairing a meeting of the steering committee, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Special Initiatives Dr Sania Nishtar said that in order to reach more benefits and maximise the impact of the subsidy, Ehsaas was introducing a new “supply-oriented” model, whereby all families surveyed in the Ehsaas National Socio-Economic Registry database would be automatically eligible for the discount without registration.

“An EMS will be sent to all family members, and any family member who has an ID card and a mobile SIM registered in their name can get the subsidy,” she said, adding that after the first transaction, the details of the family member would be saved and only they would be eligible to make future transactions on behalf of their family.

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So far, the programme has registered 33 million people in two phases, including 4.25 million families in the first phase and over 1 million families in the ongoing second phase.

Those eligible under the programme can receive targeted subsidies at more than 12,000 grocery and utility stores across Pakistan. In addition to this, 24,027 Ehsaas Rashan Riayat stores have also been dedicated for the cause.