Peshawar   -  Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr Sania Nishtar expressed her satisfaction over successful efforts of the government to cope with COVID-19 situation and reaching out to the homes of 15 million labour class people affected by the pandemic.

In her visit to Provincial Election Commission Office Peshawar for submitting her documents for forthcoming Senate Election, Dr. Sania Nishtar said the situation created due to COVID-19 was extraordinary which affected people of the globe including Pakistan.

“We approached 15 million daily wagers and others in need through Ehsaas Kafalat Programme, delivered cash money to run their household affairs and feed their families. Most of the labourers and daily wagers stuck far from their homes in other cities because of the closure of inter-cities transport,” she said.

“We are thankful to Almighty Allah and the team working under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan to access these people timely and addressing their problem through Ehsaas Kafalat Programme,” she said.

Under the umbrella of the Ehsaas Programme, the Prime Minister formed a labour expert group at the International Labour Day last year, to prepare recommendations for addressing income, health and social security issues of workers in the informal sector. 

In light of those recommendations, the government has taken practical steps to bring daily wagers and labourers into the mainstream, she added.

She said the group had conducted a consultation process on recommendations for workers of informal sector to establish labour-friendly social protection institutions. 

Dr Sania Nishtar expressed her confidence that the efforts of the government would help poor to get rid of the vicious circle of poverty besides paving a way for them towards prosperity. 

The SAPM said that a survey was being conducted in the country to identify the poor who deserved assistance and help, adding that now it was in completion stage. 

She also lauded the role of teachers of the education department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Punjab for collecting the required data for the survey. 

She said Prime Minister Imran Khan was taking special interest in development of merged tribal districts to improve the living standard of the natives through providing modern facilities and financial assistance.

About the winter situation in the southern districts, North and South Waziristan, she said people of these areas who migrated to other districts due to harsh weather would also be registered under Ehsaas Kafalat Programme.

Replying to a query, she said the government was committed to fight against poverty and complete the work plan to achieve the target within the specified time.