ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Khan inaugurated the first Ehsaas One Window Center here on Wednesday. The centre aims to provide services related to all components of the Ehsaas programme to the poor at one platform.

Soon such centres would be opened across all districts of the country, said Special Assistant to the PM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar.

“This is the basis of a welfare state,” the prime minister said as Dr Nishtar briefed him on the centre offering 20 services under the Ehsaas programme.

The services include Ehsaas Hunar, Ehsaas Utility Store, Langar Khana, Waseela Taleem, Ehsaas Nashonuma, ATM for payment to Ehsaas Kafalat beneficiaries, One Woman One Account, Ehsaas Tahaffuz, Ehsaas Wifi Café, Ehsaas Scholarship, Ehsaas interest-free loans and Nadra office for biometric verification.

The prime minister, after unveiling the plaque, took a round of the centre and interacted with the Ehsaas programme beneficiaries and the officials. He also planted a sapling on the premises of the centre At the Utility Store set up inside the center, the prime minister was apprised of how it would facilitate the needy people.

During the briefing, Dr Sania told the prime minister that the One Window Center had multiple pillars including Ehsaas Digital, mobile application, back office and beneficiary policy.

She said the nationwide survey was 91 per cent complete that, after integration, would be accessible to all Ehsaas organs to enable them to ascertain the eligibility and needs of an applicant.

She said earlier there was a discrepancy in the process as the agencies were using varying eligibility methods and influential families were availing the benefits while deserving people were deprived of their rights.

She said earlier the registration of disabled persons was a difficult and lengthy procedure but the database would make it easier and enable the agencies concerned to know their needs like wheel chair.

Dr Sania said through One Window Digital, the frequently asked questions of the people regarding scholarships, loans etc. would be responded in simple Urdu.

Moreover, the mobile application would enable the people to locate the nearest Panahgah or Langar Khana.

The prime minister said education scholarship being offered by the provincial and federal governments should be consolidated at a single database for the benefit of students.

Moreover, he said the database to be developed on the basis of the nationwide survey would help the government know who was receiving Zakat.

He said the database would also enable the government to extend direct subsidy to the needy people to enable them to purchase commodities at reduced rates through Utility Stores.