US university praises PTI’s Ehsaas proverty alleviation program

One of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions located in California, Stanford University has praised the Ehsaas poverty alleviation program initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

Stanford University published a paper titled, “Frameworks for a Developmental Welfare State: Lessons From Pakistan’s Ehsaas Programme”

“Pakistan’s Ehsaas Programme has set itself apart as a world-leading anti-poverty effort to uplift the country’s most vulnerable. This paper is a review of the Ehsaas Programme, implemented by the Government of Pakistan from 2018 onwards.”

“Ehsaas, in its goal of becoming a holistic and integrated response to poverty, provides a diverse set of services for vulnerable Pakistanis, including unconditional cash transfers, targeted subsidies, and increased health and nutritional coverage.”

“We study the various policy, programmatic, and implementation reforms undertaken during this period and explore the lessons these reforms offer for global policymakers.”

“In particular, we point to the importance of good leadership, building strong institutions, effectively using data and technology, and of using an integrated, inclusive approach to anti-poverty.”

“Our findings indicate that these reforms have enabled Ehsaas to successfully scale impact, increase transparency, and improve the efficiency of its interventions, whilst building trust amongst beneficiaries and programme administrators.”

PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan said, “While grappling with stabilising a bankrupt economy, IMF programme, Covid 19 and commodity super cycle, our govt still managed to lay the foundation of a welfare state for the first time in our history.”

While grappling with stabilising a bankrupt economy, IMF programme, Covid 19 and commodity super cycle, our govt still managed to lay the foundation of a welfare state for the first time in our history.https://t.co/Y3gwS1iPxB

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 22, 2022

Earlier in February this year, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates had termed the Ehsaas programme a ‘state of the art’ initiative of the country, aimed at alleviating poverty and extending help to the marginalised communities of the country.

The initiative is aimed at introducing robust governance mechanisms that increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency, and depoliticising institutions involved in the delivery of the programme.