KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to launch seven new programmes, including poverty reduction, food security, family health and Benazir women agricultural workers programme, in order to implement PPP’s election manifesto.

Disclosing this Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who was presiding over a meeting here at CM House on Thursday, said that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had directed him to start implementation of election manifesto of the party.

“People gave us votes on the manifesto, therefore it must be implemented,” he said and added that he had convened a meeting to discuss newly proposed programmes for public welfare.

The chief minister constituted different groups in health, education and agriculture sectors under the ministers and secretaries concerned to finalise their recommendations and mechanism for launching these programmes from the next year’s budget.

At the meeting, which was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu, Labour Minister Murtaza Baloch, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Women Development Minister Shehla Raza, Adviser to the CM on Information Murtaza Wahab and secretaries concerned, newly appointed coordinator to the chief minister for social protection Haris Gazdar gave a detailed presentation on the proposed programmes.

Bhook Mitao Programme: Under this programme necessary measures would be taken to provide food security, nutrition and ensure proper pricing of agricultural commodities/crops.

Under this programme wheat procurement system would be redesigned and revamped to give benefit to poor and small farmers.

Family health: This programme is proposed to be launched by the health department under which health facilities and services would be provided to all people, particularly women and the poor.

There is also a proposal to issue health cards to provide free treatment to all citizens. This programme will ensure primary health service.

Maternal and child support: This programme would be launched by the health department and would cover family planning and provide necessary facilities for maternal and child health. Under this programme there is a proposal to give an amount of money to mothers for certain period and provide health services and develop social protection system.

Peoples Poverty Reduction: Under this programme small-scale livelihood support would be made to rural women.

Presently, the World Bank-supported Sindh Rural Support Organisation is working in selected districts and the proposal is to widen its scope and impact.

Benazir Kissan: This programme is aimed at streamlining agricultural subsidies, particularly to small farmers.

Benazir Women Agri Workers: Under this programme legal recognition would be given to women agricultural workers so that they can get small agricultural loans and they would also be provided access to services.

Internship Guarantee: Under this programme internships for educated youth would be provided. The educated rural and urban youth, particularly from non-privileged background would be entitled to take benefit from this programme.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2019