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ISLAMABAD – Islamabad: Since its launch on March 27, 2019, Ehsaas has fully consumed the budget allocations in last two financial years i.e. July 1, 2019- June 30, 2021. Overall, the entire Rs. 206.76 billion Ehsaas allocations for FY 2020-21 have been consumed for various social protection and poverty alleviation initiatives under Ehsaas. Similarly, Rs. 254.95 allocated for FY 2019-20 was fully disbursed and utilised in the said year. “Allocation for the Ehsaas program has been enhanced to Rs. 260 Billion for the fiscal year 2021-22”, said Dr. Sania.

Hinged on more than 280 programs, initiatives and policy areas, Ehsaas aims at reducing inequality and alleviating poverty through a multi-sectoral approach. Under Ehsaas Kafaalat, more than seven million families have been enrolled till June 30, 2021 through the ongoing Ehsaas survey. Kafaalat includes monthly payments of Rs. 2,000, saving bank accounts for disadvantaged women across the country.

Work on the new Ehsaas survey has significantly been expedited all over the country to gather data about the socioeconomic status of households. The survey is currently 95% percent complete and will accomplish by July 31, 2021. Enrolment of new beneficiaries is dependent on the data from the new Ehsaas survey. Households missed in the door-to-door survey will be able to enrol themselves through Ehsaas Registration Desks that will open at Tehsil level after survey completion.

Under the first phase of Ehsaas Emergency Cash in 2020, the government delivered Rs. 179.8 Billion as one-time emergency cash assistance to 14.8 million families at risk of extreme poverty. Currently, under the second phase of Ehsaas Emergency Cash, Rs.12,000 is being provided to 12 million deserving households (including 4 million additional deserving households). The purpose is to compensate affected households for unemployment caused by COVID-19 crises.

To address stunting in children under two years of age, 50 Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres have been opened across 15 districts in the first phase of program. Besides, the primary education CCT program has brought 1.6 million primary school children into its fold from across all 154 districts of Pakistan. Children are provided conditional cash grants of Rs. 1,500 for boy child and Rs. 2,000 per quarter for girl child on attainment of 70% attendance in school.

Promoting higher education, Ehsaas undergraduate scholarship program provided 142,765 need cum merit-based scholarships worth 13.2 Billion in last two academic years. The scholarship offers full-tuition fee and a living stipend.

Ehsaas is also creating small livelihoods opportunities for deserving families through Ehsaas Interest Free Loan and Ehsaas Amdan program. After the launch of Ehsaas Interest Free Loans in July 2019, a total of 1.35 million loans (46% loans to women) have been disbursed with a value of Rs 47.77 Billion. Under Ehsaas Amdan, 60,364 small income generating assets of Rs. 3.62 Billion have been transferred so far to the deserving households (60% women).

Ehsaas Langars serve free meals twice a day to daily wage earners and labourers in different parts of the country. To-date, 28 Langars have been opened throughout the country. Through ‘Ehsaas Koye Bhooka Na Soye’ (EKBNS), meals are delivered free of charge through food truck arrangements across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Peshawar. Since its launch in March 2021, overall 535,576 meals have been served through 12 food trucks operating in five cities.

Furthermore, to facilitate labourers and daily wagers who need shelter, model Panagah facilities have been built up under the Ehsaas umbrella countrywide. Since September 2021 when the responsibility was entrusted to Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division, 1.8 million beneficiaries have availed shelter and meal facilities at 17 model Panagahs in all four provinces, GB and the federal capital.

Ehsaas Tahafuz is Pakistan’s first shock-oriented precision safety net program. Tahafuz is aimed at preventing people from catastrophic health expenditures and is being pilot tested in one hospital, since Dec 2020, following which it will be upscaled in FY 2021-22.

On June 9, 2021 Prime Minister inaugurated the first One Window Ehsaas Center in Sitara Market, Islamabad. In this center, all the services under Ehsaas can be accessed under one roof. Ehsaas will open one window centers in 154 districts of the country.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 04:The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday issued detailed instructions to all the federating units for managing Eid-ul-Azha under strict Covid-19 safety protocols with cattle markets to be established outside the cities across the country.

The NCOC has directed the provincial authorities to ensure that in the light of these guidelines, Coronavirus standard operation procedures (SOPs) would be implemented in the Cattle Markets.

It was mandatory for all staff and livestock vendors to be vaccinated whereas the administration of the market was responsible to provide facilities for hand sanitizer, masks and rapid antigen test (RAT) at entry points,  it added.

However, there was ban on buying and selling of sacrificial animals inside the city.

The Forum has also released a proposed layout of model cattle market alongwith important guidelines to be followed in the market including, screening of all persons entering the cattle market, availability of veterinary doctor to check animal health at the entrance and arduous control measures mainly at entry, exit, marshaling area and control on number of persons inside cattle market through token system etc that may be devised as per need.

The guidelines also included that elaborate sign posting or guidance arrangement to prevent overcrowding should be ensured alongwith strict compliance of social distancing and wearing of mask.

Moreover, on site continuous awareness campaign through displaying of banners should be made whereas no physical touching or checking of animals would be allowed. The market administrations should ensure availability of emergency services at each market, masks, sanitizers, water, shade etc at the venue along with regular disinfection of the area.

The Forum also apprised that the country successfully exceeded total number of vaccinated individuals beyond 16.6 million with more than 830,000 vaccines administered in the month of June.

It added that a delegation led by DG NCOC visited Gilgit-Baltistan to review the overall situation and vaccination process in the region.

The delegation inspected the vaccination centers at Gilgit, Shiger and Hunza and assured the stakeholders that the NCOC has decided to vaccinate 100 percent of the registered population in all tourist destinations.

A special team was also formed in Gilgit-Baltistan to prevent coronavirus surge and improve vaccination process.

ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had so far recovered Rs33 billion in the fake accounts case involving former president Asif Ali Zardari, adding that the actual financial irregularities in the case amounted to around Rs5,000bn.

In a veiled criticism at the provincial government of Sindh and the PPP leadership, the minister tweeted that “one can imagine the level of corruption in the country given recovery of Rs33bn, which is around $200 million, by NAB.”https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7078513716629609&output=html&h=280&adk=2914867876&adf=243975207&pi=t.aa~a.2356292401~i.8~rp.4&w=696&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1625331152&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=2527759049&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=696×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamabadpost.com.pk%2Ffawad-says-nab-has-so-far-recovered-rs33bn-in-zardari-fake-accounts-case%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=174&rw=696&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8JWAhwYQvI_58anDp45EEjkAO0PTJ28JArdEXA5ktuURmE7buAYb1-EINdUgwF5iw7Plh8IYVzQN7v-HvgiBKeSoTRWpv-qNjmM&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiNi4xIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTEuMC40NDcyLjEyNCIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hZHNlcnZpY2UuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo2fSx7Imlzc3Vlck9yaWdpbiI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXR0ZXN0YXRpb24uYW5kcm9pZC5jb20iLCJzdGF0ZSI6N31d&dt=1625331152217&bpp=5&bdt=14777&idt=7&shv=r20210630&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2cab8dd1d7a97507-2251d758ada700c6%3AT%3D1619371132%3ART%3D1619371132%3AS%3DALNI_MbCWjL6fpbAI7C_Q4Gb9OcZB0P5kA&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280&nras=3&correlator=4424388962017&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1644726435.1625331140&ga_sid=1625331140&ga_hid=252814202&ga_fc=0&u_tz=300&u_his=31&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=141&ady=1277&biw=1349&bih=657&scr_x=0&scr_y=455&eid=21067496%2C31061684&oid=3&pvsid=1318348561661326&pem=180&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C657&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=WBmCcjqsSj&p=https%3A//islamabadpost.com.pk&dtd=430

“This indicates how ruthlessly the rulers have looted Sindh and Pakistan,” he added.

This is not the first time that the federal minister has fired a broadside at the Sindh government for their alleged corruption. In his recent visit to Karachi, Chaudhry had accused the Sindh rulers and the top PPP leadership of misusing public funds to launder money abroad.

He had also advocated monitoring the use of public funds given by the federal government to Sindh through a “third party”. He claimed money belonging to the Sindh government was being retrieved from Dubai, Canada and Europe.

Fake accounts case

The fake accounts case first surfaced in 2015 when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), on the basis of a tip-off, had registered the case against former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, who was widely believed to be close to former president Zardari.

As the investigation lingered on, the Supreme Court in July 2018 took suo motu notice of the slow-paced probe of the case and directed the FIA to submit a detailed report on the matter.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7078513716629609&output=html&h=280&adk=2914867876&adf=1581825134&pi=t.aa~a.2356292401~i.20~rp.4&w=696&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1625331152&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=2527759049&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=696×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamabadpost.com.pk%2Ffawad-says-nab-has-so-far-recovered-rs33bn-in-zardari-fake-accounts-case%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=174&rw=696&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8JWAhwYQvI_58anDp45EEjkAO0PTJ28JArdEXA5ktuURmE7buAYb1-EINdUgwF5iw7Plh8IYVzQN7v-HvgiBKeSoTRWpv-qNjmM&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiNi4xIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTEuMC40NDcyLjEyNCIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hZHNlcnZpY2UuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo2fSx7Imlzc3Vlck9yaWdpbiI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXR0ZXN0YXRpb24uYW5kcm9pZC5jb20iLCJzdGF0ZSI6N31d&dt=1625331152234&bpp=7&bdt=14793&idt=7&shv=r20210630&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2cab8dd1d7a97507-2251d758ada700c6%3AT%3D1619371132%3ART%3D1619371132%3AS%3DALNI_MbCWjL6fpbAI7C_Q4Gb9OcZB0P5kA&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C696x280&nras=4&correlator=4424388962017&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1644726435.1625331140&ga_sid=1625331140&ga_hid=252814202&ga_fc=0&u_tz=300&u_his=31&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=141&ady=2113&biw=1349&bih=657&scr_x=0&scr_y=455&eid=21067496%2C31061684&oid=3&pvsid=1318348561661326&pem=180&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C657&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=B0GlXOE5uJ&p=https%3A//islamabadpost.com.pk&dtd=449

Several bigwigs, including Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Lawai and Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed had been nominated in the case. Besides, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were also included in the probe.

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was subsequently formed in September 2018 on request of the FIA to probe the matter, which in its initial report to the Supreme Court stated that a close nexus had been found between a troika of the Zardari Group, Omni Group and Bahria Town. The JIT report revealed that initially at least 29 bank accounts identified as fake had been used for money laundering of Rs42 billion.

The two groups, the JIT had alleged in its report, amassed assets through misappropriation of loans, government funds, kickbacks and proceeds of crime.

The top court had subsequently ordered the Zardari Group, Omni Group, Bahria Town, Faryal Talpur and others, including contractors/builders, to file their comments on the JIT report.

In a 17-page-long written reply submitted in the SC, Zardari had said that “the JIT is being used as a means for political victimisation,” adding that to accuse someone without showing them the evidence is against Article 10A of the Constitution (right to a fair trial).

The court in January 2019 ordered transfer of the case to the NAB.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7078513716629609&output=html&h=280&adk=2914867876&adf=223859776&pi=t.aa~a.2356292401~i.32~rp.4&w=696&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1625331152&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=2527759049&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=696×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamabadpost.com.pk%2Ffawad-says-nab-has-so-far-recovered-rs33bn-in-zardari-fake-accounts-case%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=174&rw=696&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8JWAhwYQvI_58anDp45EEjkAO0PTJ28JArdEXA5ktuURmE7buAYb1-EINdUgwF5iw7Plh8IYVzQN7v-HvgiBKeSoTRWpv-qNjmM&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiNi4xIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTEuMC40NDcyLjEyNCIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hZHNlcnZpY2UuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo2fSx7Imlzc3Vlck9yaWdpbiI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXR0ZXN0YXRpb24uYW5kcm9pZC5jb20iLCJzdGF0ZSI6N31d&dt=1625331152251&bpp=4&bdt=14811&idt=4&shv=r20210630&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2cab8dd1d7a97507-2251d758ada700c6%3AT%3D1619371132%3ART%3D1619371132%3AS%3DALNI_MbCWjL6fpbAI7C_Q4Gb9OcZB0P5kA&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C696x280%2C696x280&nras=5&correlator=4424388962017&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1644726435.1625331140&ga_sid=1625331140&ga_hid=252814202&ga_fc=0&u_tz=300&u_his=31&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=141&ady=2991&biw=1349&bih=657&scr_x=0&scr_y=455&eid=21067496%2C31061684&oid=3&pvsid=1318348561661326&pem=180&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C657&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=phjVtx0Tf3&p=https%3A//islamabadpost.com.pk&dtd=460

The hearings into the case continues as the former president denies his involvement in alleged money laundering through fake accounts.

Meanwhile, the accountability court had on June 15 summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari and his alleged frontman Mushtaq Ahmed in a case related to a suspicious transaction of Rs8.3 billion from Bahria Town’s account.

According to the NAB reference, Mr Zardari built his palatial house in Clifton with ill-gotten money as he could not provide proof of his claim that he had purchased the house through legal means. The reference said Mushtaq had allegedly provided Rs150 million for the construction. NAB said an illegal transaction of Rs8.3bn was carried out through a bank account of Mushtaq, who worked as a government employee in the President House from 2009 to 2013, and the money was paid to Bahria Town.

Another suspect in the case, Zain Malik, son-in-law of Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz, has already signed a plea bargain deal with NAB and deposited around Rs9bn in the national exchequer.

MOSCOW – Russian warplanes practiced bombing enemy ships in the Black Sea during training exercises, Russia said on Saturday, amid friction with the West over NATO drills in the region and following a recent incident with a British warship.

Moscow last week challenged the right of HMS Defender to pass through waters near Crimea, something London said it had every right to do. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 but most of the world still recognises it as part of Ukraine.

Russia said the vessel had illegally entered its territorial waters and accused London of a “provocation”. Moscow has said it could bomb British naval vessels if there are more such actions by the British navy off Crimea.

On Saturday, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet said warplanes from its aviation units and those of the southern military district had taken part in training drills.

“Aircraft crews … conducted training flights over the Black Sea, practicing missile and bombing strikes against simulated enemy ships,” it was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

The drills involved aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-purpose fighters, Sukhoi Su-24M bombers, Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers and Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets, the report said.

The exercise comes as NATO, Ukraine and allies conduct their large-scale Sea Breeze drills in the region.

Those drills are set to last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft, with U.S. missile destroyer USS Ross and the U.S. Marine Corps taking part.

Moscow had called for the exercise to be cancelled and the Russian defence ministry has said it will react to safeguard national security if necessary.

ROME – Italy‘s detractors are running out of reasons to doubt their ability to win Euro 2020 after Friday’s triumph over Belgium.

The Azzurri‘s record unbeaten run has been well documented during the tournament, and it stretched to 32 matches in Munich on Friday.

But the fact that Roberto Mancini‘s side had not beaten any recognised international football powerhouses during that streak, which stretches back to September 2018, encouraged some pundits to raise questions about their ability to go far in the competition.

After Italy recorded back-to-back 3-0 wins against Turkey and Switzerland at the start of the Euros, former France midfielder Patrick Vieira said: “They lack intensity, power, pace, to be even more dangerous going forward… It’s still a bit too early to take Italy into consideration, that they can go to the end.”

Former England defender Gary Neville felt similarly, quipping: “I do feel once they start to play against the better teams, they won’t have enough.”

According to world football’s governing body FIFA, there are no better teams than world number one side Belgium, who were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites.

But the Azzurri’s 13th consecutive win was their most impressive yet as they came out on top not just with the final score, but also in terms of possession and shots.

It was a performance that felt like a statement of intent from a nation that has won four World Cups and one European Championship but has had to rebuild its reputation after the humiliating failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

“Belgium beaten – we’re back among the greats of football,” said Gazzetta dello Sport’s front page on Saturday.

“Nights like this tell me that we’re becoming a really good team. We showed solidity, a spirit of sacrifice and that Italian heart. Now we will rest and go again at Wembley. We believe,” said captain Giorgio Chiellini.

The win was marred only by a serious injury to left-back Leonardo Spinazzola, who had to be stretchered off and looks set to play no further part in the tournament.

Italy are now three games away from equalling the all-time international unbeaten record set by Spain between 2007 and 2009 – and it is the Spanish they face next in the semi-final.

If they are to reach that target, they will have to win the Euros for the second time in their history in the process.

It might be harder now to find people who doubt their ability to do just that.