We deeply acknowledge positive response & keen interest of Kiryana merchants in the Ehsaas Rashan Riayat programme: Dr. Sania

LAHORE, Mar 05 (SABAH): Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM co-chaired the “Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Retailers’ Convention” held at the Governor’s House in Lahore. The event was hosted by Punjab Social Welfare Department.

Punjab Minister for Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal, Syed Yawar Abbas Bukhari; DG Social Welfare Department, Mudassir Riaz Malik also joined the convention alongside the senior leadership of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Bank of Punjab and Bank of Khyber.

Deputy Commissioners from all over Punjab participated in the event together with a large number of retailers, and office bearers of trader associations as well as Kiryana alliances.

During the event, a detailed interaction was held with retailers. Dr. Sania spoke to Kiryana retailers and shopkeepers about the Ehsaas Rashan programme. She clarified their questions about the operational modalities and incentives for retailers participating in the programme.

Speaking with retailers, Dr. Sania stated, “We deeply acknowledge the positive response and keen interest of Kiryana merchants in the Ehsaas Rashan Riayat programme. Today’s interaction would be helpful is setting the policy direction for retailers under the programme. All suggestions shared at this forum would definitely be incorporated in the programme execution.”

Dr. Sania also lauded the key role played by district administrations of Punjab in Ehsaas Rashan Registration Drive with Kiryana retailers. She also thanked Punjab Social Welfare Department for successfully organizing this provincial convention of retailers.

Later during the question-and-answer session, Kiryana retailers assured full support to the government in execution of Ehsaas Rashan programme. Best performing Kiryana retailers were awarded with shields under the programme. Alongside, DCs were also conferred shields for their active role in Ehsaas Rashan Registration Drive.

All over the country, Kiryana stores of any scale can be enrolled in the Rashan programme. Government is giving 8% commission to Kiryana retailers on each subsidy sale and there will be quarterly lucky draws to award cars, motorcycles, mobile phones to best performing retailers.

NBP is facilitating the Kiryana owners countrywide to open their bank accounts. NBP authorized retailers having bank accounts can install ‘Ehsaas mobile Point of Sale’ (mPOS) App in their cell phones for Ehsaas Rashan Riayat delivery.

Ehsaas Rashan subsidy of 30% will be given to 20 million families on the purchase of flour, pulses, cooking oil and ghee every month. The overall budget of the programme Rs. 106 billion.