The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched the Ehsaas Loan Programme, an interest-free lending scheme worth Rs500 million aimed at economically empowering persons with disabilities across the province.
Advisor to the KP Chief Minister on Social Welfare, Zakat and Ushr, Malik Liaquat Ali Khan, announced the programme while addressing a Khuli Kachehri organized for differently-abled persons in Swabi.
He said the initiative had been included in the Annual Development Programme for the current financial year, and would provide easy-term, interest-free loans to help persons with disabilities start businesses and achieve financial self-reliance.
Khan said the Ehsaas Scholarship Programme, allocated Rs700 million, had also been introduced for differently-abled students. He further announced that the Ehsaas Umeed Card Programme would be inaugurated this week.
Under this scheme, 10,000 persons with disabilities will receive a monthly stipend of Rs5,000. A similar card-based initiative is being introduced for orphans and widows, under which eligible beneficiaries will also receive Rs5,000 per month.
Khan said all financial assistance would be transferred directly into beneficiaries bank accounts, and that persons with disabilities and other deserving groups would not be required to visit government offices for registration. Instead, registration facilities would be provided at their doorsteps.
During the event, Khan announced financial assistance of Rs50,000 for an elderly person with a disability and directed relevant authorities to take immediate action on issues raised by participants.
He also said a special quota for persons with disabilities would be allocated under the Dowry Fund to ease financial burdens on affected families.
