Poverty elimination and Ehsaas program.

Byline: Muhammad Rehan-Muhammad Farhan-Dr. Ponum

Poverty is one of the concerns of the governments of almost all countries. There is a constant research on the policy by organizations around the world to identify the means to achieve a decline in poverty. The poverty is defined as widespread scarcity, or the condition of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. That is, they have little or no material means of surviving; little or no food, security, clothes, shelter, education, healthcare facilities and other physical means of living and improving one's life.

As per the latest estimates, 24% of Pakistan's population live below the national poverty line; which includes 31% in rural areas and 13% in urban areas. Further, 38.8% of the national population are poor based on the multidimensional poverty index (MPI); 54.6% in rural areas and 9.4% in urban areas. The situation is pathetic in terms of food security. The global report titled "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" reports 20.5% of the total population of Pakistan was undernourished during the 2015-2017 period.

The Country's National MPI constitutes three dimensions of education, health and standard of living and 15 indicators. While each dimension carries an equal weight of 1/3, the weights of the component indicator differ.

The vision of Prime Minister is very clear to reduce poverty. In this regard, many initiatives were taken like Health Card, Shelter Home, Free Food and Ehsaas Program. Ehsaas is the biggest and boldest program ever launched in Pakistan to uplift marginalized people. Ehsaas is unique because of its multidimensional application, size and funding.

Following are some ways that can help to reduce poverty. These should also be added in the scope of Ehsaas Program:

Zakat system

The system of Zakat is best to reduce the poverty and help the poor to grow an independent source of income. The Zakat is obligatory on the people who have the money and they hold it for one year, they are asked to pay 2.5% of their money to the underserved and poor people. The Quran says on many occasions to pay Zakat:

"And in their wealth there is due share for the beggar and the deprived." [Al-Zariyat, 51:19].

"And there are those who hoard gold and silver, and spend it not in the way of Allah. Announce unto them a most grievous chastisement. On the day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks...