Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the country’s mega interest-free loan programme worth Rs 407 billion, saying the step would contribute towards making low-income groups financially self-reliant. Under Kamyab Pakistan Programme – a component of the prime minister’s vision for poverty alleviation, the loans will be disbursed among the youth, women, farmers and for the construction of low-income houses during the next two years.
The prime minister said 4.5 million families would benefit from the interest-free loans to start small businesses, construction of homes, farming and learn technical education. PM Khan said so far Rs 2.5 billion had been disbursed among the low-income groups in various welfare schemes and mentioned that the banks had also given loans of Rs 55 billion after the government encouraged them to facilitate common man.
Pakistan had been envisioned as a socio-welfare country in line with the golden principles of Islam’s first State of Medina. National health insurance programme launched by the government would help expand medical set up in the public and private sector across the country. Providing free medical treatment worth Rs one million to every household annually was a proud step taken by the government.
Prime Minister Khan said that all the tax money collected by the government would be spent on the welfare of the general public. There is no denying the fact that the Prime Minister himself has an earnest desire to really change the fate of this country. He often quotes the Madina model in this regard. The problem lies in the execution of his orders. The bureaucracy unfortunately still is loath to execute his orders in letter and spirit. And that is where the shoe actually pinches.
There is a perception that the loans and for that matter the distribution of funds under the Ehsas program do not reach the genuine needy people. The prime minister has announced plans to launch a countrywide helpline where people could launch complaints about any of the services including the Ehsas funds distribution and loans etc. However people fear that the helpline may not yield desired results since it will be manned by the same people. It can only render positive results provided a trained and highly motivated staff is deputed to look after the helpline etc.
Loans initiative is no doubt a praiseworthy step but real challenges lie in its smooth execution. Let us hope that the deserving people are able to benefit from this scheme.
