Rs42.65 billion interest-free loans launched PM

ISLAMABAD:

On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan declared that the reward for whistleblowers would increase the government's money for the detection and confiscation of Benami property from 3 to 10 per cent and that the money to generate would be diverted into the Ehasas Program of the government.

At the launch ceremony of the National Poverty Graduation Initiative (NPGI) Rs42,65 billion, Khan noted that changes to the current laws will be provided to raise rewards for whistleblowers. He voiced trust that after the sale of benami estates, the cash produced would exceed the national budget.

It was said that the Prime Minister had challenged the Federal Revenue Board (FBR) to re-enforce taxes for the public. He announced that the state will change the laws to increase the current award for whistleblowers, who will indicate any benami estate, from 3% to 10%.

In response to opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif's criticism in the National Assembly, the prime minister stated, during his tenure, that they only thought about themselves and not build a hospital where they could be treated.

“During their governments, [former president] Asif Zardari and [former prime minister] Nawaz Sharif had paid 40 trips each to Dubai and London while the country’s loans swelled from Rs6,000 billion to Rs30,000 billion during the last 10 years,” said the prime minister.

He said those in authority over the last 30 years would now go to London for medical examination. “They can’t even make a single hospital in their 30 years,” he said. “Shehbaz wants to enjoy the looted wealth stashed abroad, he is scared of death.”

The prime minister complained that Pakistan has the largest per-capita percentage of individuals impacted by HIV.

“AIDS cases in Larkana have shed light on the conditions of government hospitals. It seems previous governments did not care about the poor people,” he said. “We aim to change that.”

Khan initiated the NPGI in order to save poverty by offering interest-free credit and transfer of capital as well as vocational and professional preparation to the poorest family. The ceremony also marked the distribution of the checks of Rs 3.02 billion worth of interest-free loans between the persons deserving of 86,151 at the Prime Minister's Office.

Shafqat Mahmood, Special Assistant to PM on Social Protection and Poverty Alliance Dr Sania Nishtar, Minister of Education and Training, visited the event along with a large amount of participating organizational representatives and Program beneficiaries.

He said that the Ehsas program was based on the Madina State model, which has provided the idea that all the developed countries of the West currently have a contemporary welfare state.

“Ehsas is the first well-integrated anti-poverty programme in which all the ministries have their roles,” he added.

He said that the government had already raised the Ehsas Program to Rs200 billion, which would be further strengthened in the future. He said it would introduce various plans every month under its flagship program of poverty alleviation.

Khan said that about 60 per cent of the population of Pakistan is under the age of 30 and that it could be a wonderful power if it is given adequate skills and sufficient possibilities to excel. “Naya Pakistan would bring the people out of poverty in real terms following in the footsteps of the State of Madina by allowing the wealth creation,” he said.