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Business Recorder
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
KP CM releases Rs8bn for Ehsas initiatives
PESHAWAR: A meeting held here with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the chair reviewed the progress on four major programmes being implemented under Ehsas initiative in the province. These programmes include Ehsaas Nojawan, Ehsaas Hunar, Ehsaas Rozgar, and Ehsaas Apna Ghar (Low cost housing project). Besides, Provincial Ministers, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, Syed Fakhar Jehan, Advisors to KP CM on Finance and Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Muzammil Aslam and Dr. Amjad Ali, administrative secretaries of relevant departments and representatives of partner institutions also attended the meeting. The Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur announced the release of Rs. 8 billion for the Ehsaas initiatives in the current fiscal year, with Rs 2 billion earmarked for interest-free loans under each of the four flagship programs. Similarly, in a significant move to uplift the merged districts, the Chief Minister directed that dedicated and separate funds be allocated for beneficiaries from the merged areas under all four initiatives. He further instructed that the loan disbursement procedures and requirements be simplified specifically for applicants from these districts to ensure maximum participation and benefit. He emphasized that the people of the merged districts deserve special attention and efforts must be made to enable as many residents as possible to benefit from these schemes within the current year. The Chief Minister also directed the concerned departments to also accelerate the loan disbursement process and to further simplify the eligibility criteria for applicants across the province. During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given on the progress, so far made of the programs. It was informed that under Component-I of the Ehsaas Nojawan Program, being implemented through the Bank of Khyber, Rs. 408 million in interest-free loans have been distributed among 139 beneficiaries, utilizing 100% of the allocated funds. An additional Rs. 116 million is required for 52 more approved cases under the same component. Meanwhile, Component-II of the Ehsaas Nojawan Program, implemented through Akhuwat Microfinance, has also achieved 100% disbursement of its allocated funds. So far, Rs. 602 million in interest-free loans have been disbursed among 3585 beneficiaries, with another 1,745 applications currently under process. It was also highlighted that Akhuwat has achieved a 100% loan recovery rate under this program, with Rs. 42.88 million recovered to date. Under the Ehsaas Hunar Program, Rs. 307 million have been distributed among 647 beneficiaries, while an additional 592 cases are currently being processed. In the Ehsaas Apna Ghar scheme, Rs. 200 million have been disbursed among 76 successful applicants through a balloting process. For the current fiscal year, the eligibility criteria for this scheme have been further relaxed. The monthly income threshold for eligibility has been increased from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000. Similarly, maximum limit of covered area has also been extended from five marla to ten marla as eligibility criteria under this scheme. These reforms reflect the provincial government's commitment to expanding access to welfare and livelihood opportunities, particularly for youth and underserved communities, including those in the merged districts. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
15-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P provincial budget lauded
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Minister for Social Welfare, Zakat, Ushr and Special Education, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, has termed the provincial budget for 2025-26 as people-friendly and surplus, stating that the provision of facilities to the public has been given top priority. He said that it is a balanced budget in which comprehensive measures have been proposed for the improvement and development of all sectors. He expressed these views in a press statement. He further said that the budget allocated for the departments of Zakat, Ushr, Social Welfare, and Special Education has increased by 135%, bringing the allocation to Rs19.11 billion. The government has also outlined major projects for special children. Under a key project, centers for children affected by autism will be established at the divisional level at a cost of Rs1.2 billion. Similarly, five new campuses of the "Zamung Kor" institution are being set up for the care and upbringing of orphaned and underprivileged children, with Rs600 million allocated for this initiative.
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PTI protests outside ECP office
PESHAWAR: The workers of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Peshawar against the stealing of the mandate of the party on February 8, 2024. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah led the protest. During his speech at the protest, the provincial minister stated that alleged rigging was carried out in Form 47 on February 8, stealing PTI's public mandate. He demanded that the injustice be rectified and the rightful mandate of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf be restored. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Zamung Kor, Panagahs to get budget boost
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has directed that the operational costs of the province's key social welfare initiatives, Zamung Kor (Model Institute for State Children) and Panagahs (Shelter Houses), be incorporated into the regular provincial budget to ensure their long-term sustainability. He emphasized that running such programs through grant-in-aid is not a viable solution. These directives were issued during a high-level meeting on the affairs of Zamung Kor and Panagah projects. The meeting was attended by provincial cabinet members Syed Qasim Ali Shah and Muzammil Aslam, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Ikramullah Khan, and senior officials from relevant departments. During the meeting, it was decided in principle to establish additional Zamung Kor centers across various districts and to set up a separate Zamung Kor center for girls in Peshawar. Furthermore, projects for Zamung Kor centers in the Malakand and Hazara divisions will be included in the upcoming Annual Development Program. The meeting also approved the arrangement for a permanent building for the Zamung Kor center currently operating in a rented facility in Dera Ismail Khan. Additionally, it was agreed to recruit permanent staff for Zamung Kor centers and to upgrade existing Panagahs across different regions of the province. The Chief Minister instructed officials to address shortcomings in the Panagahs and ensure they are upgraded to state-of-the-art facilities in the next budget cycle. Expressing displeasure over the non-payment of salaries to Panagah staff, he ordered the immediate disbursement of pending wages. Background It may be recalled that in 2019, then-Chief Minister Mahmood Khan approved the opening of Zamung Kor campuses in Abbottabad, Swat, and DI Khan. He also sanctioned the establishment of a Zamung Kor campus for female children in Peshawar and directed authorities to acquire land and buildings for this purpose. During discussions on the extension of Zamung Kor, the Chief Minister met with a delegation from Azad Foundation UK at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar. The foundation provided a detailed presentation on the rehabilitation of street children, including their education and integration into society. One notable success story highlighted in the meeting was a former street child who became a prominent player in the Pakistan Premier Football League in Karachi. The meeting also reviewed previous decisions of the PTI government regarding social protection for street children, relevant legislation, and proposed guidelines for supporting vulnerable children, beggars, and child laborers through geo-mapping data collection.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur enunciates women uplift projects
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur launched Gender Parity Report 2024 at the Chief Minister's House on Tuesday in connection with International Women's Day. The event, organized by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, was attended by Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah, K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, officials from Social Welfare Department, and large number of women from various walks of life. The Gender Parity Report 2024 is a comprehensive data-driven document that highlights gender equality trends in the province, providing insights into access to services, socio-economic participation, and political representation of men and women. The report aims to serve as a guiding document for stakeholders working towards gender equality. Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the importance of accurate data for policymaking and decision-making, and commended the officials involved in compiling the report, stating that no developmental initiative can succeed without reliable data. He assured that the issues identified in the report would be addressed on a priority basis, and after endorsement by the provincial assembly, it would be shared with the federal government to encourage nationwide efforts for gender equality. The K-P CM reaffirmed his government's commitment to women's participation in economic and social programs, particularly through the Ehsaas Youth Employment and Ehsaas Skills Development initiatives. He said that women, who make up more than half of the country's population, are key to national progress and that protecting the rights of women and marginalized groups is essential for prosperity. Highlighting efforts in girls' education, he remarked that the provincial government had established 2,800 Girls' Community Schools, providing education to thousands of girls. Additionally, a voucher scheme had been launched to enroll out-of-school girls, while scholarships and stipends were being provided to reduce the dropout rate in government schools. Ali Amin Gandapur pointed out that the government had set up Women Police Desks in police stations and established Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Courts across the province to improve women's safety and access to justice. He said special open forums (Khuli Kacheris) are being organized under the Public Agenda Program to address women's issues on a priority basis. The K-P CM said the provincial government has launched Sahara Card Program, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to widows aged 45 and above. Additionally, the government is facilitating women's inheritance rights, ensuring they receive their legal share of property.
