TAXILA: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar on Thursday announced that the SMS Registration Service of 8171 will open from Friday for the intended beneficiaries to register for the Ehsaas Ration Riayat programme.

She was talking to newsmen during her visit to Fatehjang. Officials of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), NBP and local administration were also present on the occasion.

She said that the registration process for the eligible households and grocery merchants under the Ehsaas Ration Riayat program continued across

the country through the web portal while SMS service of 8171 to register the eligible buyers will open from tomorrow.

She revealed that the overall subsidy of Rs1,000 is being given to the eligible person on flour, pulses and cooking oil or ghee through this programme.

She said the subsidy of Rs 22 per kg is being given on flour, Rs55 per kg on pulses and Rs105 per liter on cooking oil or ghee at the designated grocery stores.

Dr Sania emphasized that it is mandatory for both the buyer and grocery merchants to have mobile SIMs issued on their own Computerized National Identity Cards to register for this programme.

Responding to a query, she said: “We are doing our utmost efforts to ensure transparency in this programme at every level.” She said the subsidy would be directly provided to the grocery merchants in their bank accounts while the shopkeepers would also be given commission.

She said a lucky draw would also be held after every three months through which gifts like mobile phones, motorcycles or cash prizes would be given to grocery stores owners.

Dr. Sania said as many as 20 million families identified through the recently completed Ehsaas survey would benefit from the programme, adding that 130 million people overall would benefit nationwide which is 53 per cent of the population.

She informed newsmen that those families who have less than 50,000 per month income were also eligible to apply for registration.

However, those government employees who have less than Rs 31, 500 salary per month would also get benefit from the programme.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021