ISLAMABAD: In an effort to alleviate poverty and enable the poor earn their living, the government social welfare programme Ehsaas on Thursday provided 150 vending licences to street vendors along with eco-friendly carts to start their small business.

Senator Sania Nishtar distributed the licences in a special ceremony organised jointly by Ehsaas, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nishtar appreciated the initiative and collaboration between government, academia and private sector in structuring a sustainable intervention for providing an enabling environment to street vendors.

“This initiative has been taken under the direct policy directives of the Prime Minister Imran Khan,” she said.

Further, she recognised the fact that this initiative creates opportunities for earning livelihoods and contributes to climate change efforts through solar system-fitted carts.

She expressed her hope that the programme would continue with the pace to cover other areas of the city and later replicated in other cities of the country

Dr Nadeemul Haque, vice chancellor PIDE elaborated on the potential of street economy for furthering job generation and economic growth.

He mentioned that street vendors are integral part of the society and economy, who needs to be embraced by the government.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2022