ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that “Koi Bhooka Na Soye” initiative under Ehsaas Programme is a step towards a welfare state, which always cares for its poor and deserving people.
Addressing the launching ceremony of “Koi Bhooka Na Soye” on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said that he always feels happy to see that deserving people are given shelter and food with honour and dignity at various Panahgahs established across the country.
The Prime Minister announced to launch a subsidy programme by June this year under which money will directly be transferred to the accounts of 30 million families. He said it will enable the poor and deserving people to procure kitchen items. The Prime Minister said a similar direct subsidy will be provided to farmers so that they can procure fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.
Under the initiative, cooked meals will be provided through mobile trucks at designated delivery points to people in need especially those at risk of or experiencing hunger. Initially, the Ehsaas Food Trucks are being operated in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and at later stages this programme will be further expanded to other parts of the country.
Briefing the Prime Minister, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar said this programme is being executed with the cooperation of Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal.
Managing Director, Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal Aon Abbas Bappi on this occasion said that hospitals and bus stops are especially targeted so that quality meals can be served to the deserving people.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that provision of their own housing to homeless people is amongst the top priorities of the government.
He was chairing the weekly meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction and Development in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said having their own house is the right of every poor and low income individual and the government is determined to facilitate them in this regard.
The housing NCC noted the total volume of all 307 projects it has planned amount to Rs2.07 trillion.
Separately, the same session on Wednesday deliberated the upcoming 526 projects that are still under consideration which shall comprise constructions and developments on 64.12 million square feet land. With the already approved ventures, the NCC huddle asserted, a commercial outcome of about Rs796.5 billion is expected to be reaped from these while on the other hand Rs1.28 trillion activity is expected from the projects still to be approved.
The development projects would translate into direct job opportunities to 250,000 people while about the double will be employed indirectly in the course and after.
Moreover, the PM shared his suspicion over impediments in the development projects planned for Sindh province and said these projects are meant to benefit both people and the province.
“It is our priority to provide a roof to low-income class people and our government will facilitate fully to make this project a reality,” said the Prime Minister.
For provision of low-income class housing, the chairman of Capital Development Authority briefed the PM-led NCC session and announced 5,000 units are being planned whose cornerstone shall be laid by the first week of April. The huddle concluded all the cases of withheld development projects may be sent to the national accountability bureau.
Yet in another meeting on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said Ravi Urban Project and Central Business Development Project will not only generate billions of rupees in economic activity but will also help overcome problems of Lahore.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was chairing a review meeting on the progress of Ravi Urban City Project and Central Business Development Project on Wednesday. He directed the authorities concerned to pay special attention to the protection of the environment in both projects. He asked to keep him informed about the progress of the projects.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday showed resentment over the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as it failed to show any recoveries from the sugar mills owned by the government personalities.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) presented the report showing recoveries of more than Rs400 billion from the sugar mills on the orders of the Premier. The report showed recoveries from the small sugar companies but failed to show any recoveries from the ‘big fish’.
Showing resentment over the report compiled by the country’s supreme tax body, PM Imran Khan asked the FBR officials why across the board action was not initiated in the sugar scandal.
The FBR officials replied that investigation against the big companies owned by the Sharif family, JKT group, Khushro Bakhtiar, Humayun Akhtar group, RYK, Ittehad Sugar Mills and others are currently underway, but the officials failed to give a convincing reply to the Premier.
Imran Khan ordered the FBR officials to initiate across-the-board action and submit a detailed report into the scam.
Meanwhile, reaffirming the resolve to facilitate Uzbekistan’s access to Pakistani ports, Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for forging closer ties with Central Asia, covering trade, investment, energy and people-to-people exchanges.
The Prime Minister said this while talking to Uzbek Foreign Minister Dr Abdulaziz Kamilov, who called on him on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistan offers the shortest route to international seas to all Central Asian Republics through Karachi and Gwadar ports and could be the gateway to landlocked Central Asia.
He expressed appreciation for the proposed trans-Afghan railway project among Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to support all efforts for the earliest realisation of this important connectivity project.
The Prime Minister emphasised that enhanced trade and regional connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are the cornerstones of economic growth and development.
Underlining the historic and civilisational links between the two countries, Imran Khan underlined that Pakistan highly values its close fraternal ties with Uzbekistan and wishes to deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas.
Prime Minister Khan fondly recalled his interactions with President Mirziyoyev in Beijing and Bishkek and reiterated his invitation to the Uzbek President to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support to the Afghan peace process, stressing the imperative of negotiated political solution. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the Afghan sides will seize this historic opportunity to work together constructively and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive negotiated political settlement.
In the context of South Asia, the Prime Minister underscored that durable peace and economic development in the region hinge upon peaceful resolution of long-standing unresolved disputes.
Uzbek Foreign Minister handed over a letter from President Mirziyoyev addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan, inviting him to participate in a Central Asia-South Asia Connectivity Conference in Tashkent in July 2021.
The Prime Minister thanked for the invitation and mentioned that he is looking forward to visiting Uzbekistan.
Relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are based on common faith, shared history and cultural affinities. These linkages provide a strong foundation for increased bilateral cooperation in myriad fields. Both countries have been closely collaborating at regional and international fora, especially at the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organisation and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. – TLTP
