LAHORE: Chief Minister Parvez Elahi has given in-principle approval for the launch of the Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme under which the monthly financial assistance has been increased from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500. Under the plan, the poor people will be given flour, pulses and ghee at subsidised rates.

Mr Elahi directed a ministerial steering committee for the implementation of the plan to be headed by Dr Sania Nishtar.

He said that a working group would also be formed while an effective monitoring system would be framed to implement the Ehsaas Ration Programme to be given legal cover through an act of the Punjab Assembly. He sought the consolidation of various social protection programmes on a single platform.

Dr Nishtar briefed the meeting about the salient features of Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme, Ehsaas Card and Ehsaas Protection Programme at a meeting chaired by the chief minister here.

Provincial Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Adviser to CM Omar Sarfraz Cheema, MNA Moonis Elahi, former P&D chairman Salman Ghani, former principal secretary to CM GM Sikandar, the chairman of Planning & Development, and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia Pakistan secretary general Maulana Hanif Jalandari appreciated the step of the chief minister for including the clause of Khatm-i-Nabuwat affidavit in the marriage certificate.

He, during his meeting with the chief minister, acknowledged the step and termed it a great service to the religion.

The chief minister informed the guest that directions had been issued to the Marriage Registrar to provide new Khatm-i-Nabuwat affidavit forms adding that strict action would be taken against those refusing to issue the new form.

He said that one-month imprisonment and a fine could be given to the marriage registrar for not using the new marriage form.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2022