ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Monday) launched Ehsaas Saving Wallets (Ehsaas Bachat Bank Account) Initiative, which aimed at the financial and digital inclusion of women.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister termed it a very significant programme, saying that financial inclusion of women would help in their mainstreaming and reduce the poverty.
The prime minister said financial mainstreaming of women was important to end poverty at a faster pace, thus ultimately contributing to the economic development of the country.
PM Imran said through Ehsaas Bachat Bank Account, the women citizens would be able to better utilize the cash assistance being given to them under Ehsaas programme. He also pointed out that Ehsaas Cash Emergency programme was ranked amongst top four social protection interventions by the World Bank.
“In the wake of COVID-19, cash assistance was delivered to the deserving families in the most transparent and apolitical manner,” the premier said, adding that if timely assistance was not delivered, the situation arising out of the pandemic would have added to the woes of the poor lot.
The premier also noted that no nation can become great until and unless it takes care of the poor people. PM Imran once again expressed the commitment to uplift the weak segments of the society as per the principles of State of Madina.
On the occasion, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar said the social safety net will be further expanded and one window facility will be opened at Tehsil level to integrate all Ehsaas programs under one roof.
What is Ehsaas Saving Wallets?
According to a statement, the saving wallets initiative is a strategic step forward for households to manage financial shocks, meet emergency needs, and invest to increase their earnings; to climb out of poverty. The aim of this programme is to encourage savings which can help alleviate poverty.
The newly launched Ehsaas Bachat account will deepen the financial inclusion initiated under the ‘One Woman One Bank Account Policy’. The design of the Bachat bank account is simple in the following ways: the accounts are targeted to Kafaalat beneficiaries who can open these accounts at agent shops or ATMs and will offer savings on deposits.
