F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has agreed in principal with proposed plan as a safety net to reduce inequality and to eliminate malnutrition in newly merged tribal districts under which food items would be distributed amongst food insecure households of tribal districts on monthly basis. The projected plan as part of “Ehsaas Program” is proposed to be initiated as pilot project in tribal district Orakzai with the technical assistance of world food program. Following the successful launch and implementation of this program, the Orakzai model can also be replicated in other prioritized tribal districts.
While presiding over an important meeting in this regard, the Chief Minister stated that overall objective of this initiative is to provide effective and comprehensive safety nets to the marginalized and vulnerable segments of the population by distributing food items to severely and moderately food insecure households of newly merged tribal districts.
The meeting was briefed thoroughly about the mechanism and way forward of the project. It was told that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, through its bureau of statistics has carried out a comprehensive food security and livelihood assessment in all the newly merged districts with the technical and financial assistance of world food program Pakistan and Pakistan Bureau of Statistic.
According to the proposed plan, Ehsaas Pilot Project would be launched in District Orakzai with the highest (62%) proportion of food insecure household across the merged districts. While briefing about the food distribution mechanism, it was told that targeted households will receive entitlements for a month or a full quarter (03 months) and will be able to redeem the voucher in multiple purchases in identified retailer shops.
A smart card would be provided for the purpose. With this assistant package each member of targeted household will receive virtual food basket including wheat flour, pulses, cooking oil, salt and sugar at total cost of Rs. 1846.4 per month. The total cost for Orakzai pilot project for 12 months is estimated as $ 4.515 million.
While briefing about the coordination and implementation mechanism, it was informed that project management unit (PMU) will be set up which would be responsible for overseeing day to day implementation to ensure coherence and effective monitoring of outputs.
The Chief Minister principally agreed with the proposed plan and said that the provincial government will go all out to ensure effective implementation of Ehsaas Program with special focus on newly merged tribal districts.
