ISLAMABAD, Nov 14 (DNA): In a major relief to the vulnerable segments of
the society amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Imran Khan on
Saturday gave nod to increase the number Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiary
families from 4.6 million to 7 million.

Presiding over a meeting, PM Imran said that people belonging to
low-income segments were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prime minister said that the government was focusing on
strengthening the economy. He said that saving people from the
coronavirus pandemic and boost in economic activities were the topmost
priorities of the government.

Earlier on October 14, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social
Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Sania Nishtar had said that the
scope of the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program would be expanded for poverty
eradication.

She had said that while addressing as a panelist during the World Bank
Group-IMF Annual Meeting titled Protecting South Asia s Poor and
Vulnerable Against COVID-19 and Beyond.

The South Asian event had focused on the social protection programs as a
cornerstone of relief and longer-term recovery.

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