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Govt will provide Insaf Card to 60 million people till end of this year: Dr Sania

Govt will provide Insaf Card to 60 million people till end of this year: Dr Sania
June 8, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Ehsaas Program Chairperson and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar announced that the federal government will provide Health Insaaf Cards to 60 million people till the end of this year.
Social protection to vulnerable segments of society
Addressing a news conference on Saturday, the special assistant said that the government would provide social protection to vulnerable segments of society through a number of programmes. Dr Sania said despite current austerity drive of the government and voluntary decision of many public sector institutions to not ask for more budget, the budget allocated for social protection has been doubled. She said social protection aims at measures for poorest of the poor, those facing calamity and disabled people.
Disabled to be provided free health facility
Dr Nishtar said that people registered with NADRA as disabled will be issued Health Insaaf Cards in order to provide them free health facility. Under Ehsaas program, it has been decided that blind people will be provided free white cans while those who are suffering disability of legs will be provided free wheel chairs. She said deaf people will be provided free hearing aids, adding that a committee in this regard will be constituted soon.
Two per cent quota for disabled people will be ensured
The Ehsaas program chairperson said two per cent quota in government jobs for disabled people will be ensured. She said Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken serious notice of not implementing this quota and directed to ensure it. Sania Nishtar said it has been decided to establish centers in 20 deprived districts of the country where artificial limbs will be manufactured to provide to people who become disabled. She said consultations in this regard are ongoing with relevant institutions and provinces.
Monthly pension of employees raised to Rs6500
The special assistant said in order to assist old pensioners, the monthly pension of Employees Old Age Benefits Institution has been raised to 6500 rupees. On experimental basis, Ehsaas houses will be constructed for old pensioners. She said a new policy aimed at introducing standards and benchmarks in existing orphanages, as well as to increase their numbers, is also in offing. The Ehsaas program Chairperson said the program has a special focus on laborers and it will bring them into the fold of social protection. The day laborers or people doing seasonal jobs will be registered in order to make them eligible for social protection. She said a labor expert group has been constituted that meets twice weekly.