COVID-19: Govt plays 'Role of Mother' by disbursing Rs 65.249 bln among needy strata.

LAHORE -- The incumbent PTI government has played an unprecedented role by supporting people through various relief packages and coordinated strategies amid COVID-19 spread.

Combating the on-going economy impact due to spread of the coronavirus, the government is playing an impressive and responsible role for the well being of destitute strata of the country just like playing a 'Role of Mother'.

To give relief and awareness amid COVID-19 spread, the government has established National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) which is streamlining the working of government in relief operations and playing a vital role in fighting against COVID-19.

As per Asian Development Bank (ADB) statistics, a total of 24.3 percent population of Pakistan lives below the national poverty line, while 3.9 percent of employed class has the purchasing capacity up to U $ 1.90.

The coronavirus lockdown and restrictions have severely affected low-income households in a country where those in this category earn on average less than US $ two a day, the World Bank observed in its statement.

The government, to overcome poverty and boost economic growth, first of all had decided to re-activate construction industry, which is considered as the mother of all industries, sharing the biggest contribution at national and global

level economies.

The special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty alleviation, Dr. Sania Nishtar in her recent tweet has revealed that so far, an amount of Rs. 65.249 billion had been disbursed among 5.437 million deserving families across the country, under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program Category 2 and 3.

It may be mentioned here that Ehsas programme is the biggest cash relief distribution programme in the history of the country. Ehsaas is Prime Minister Imran Khan government's biggest and boldest programme ever launched in Pakistan to uplift marginalized segments of the country.

A document of the Ehsaas Programme' shows that the poverty reduction strategy would be articulated in four pillars which contribute further 134 policy points and actions to create equality, by strengthening policies to address disadvantaged class of the population and their jobs and livelihoods.

Giving details of the total amount, Sania Nishtar confirmed that since the start of the payment process on April 9, this relief amount had been disbursed among the poor industrial labourers, price-rate wagers and deserving ones till April 22, under Ehsaas...