Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday launched an ambitious social safety and poverty alleviation programme for the welfare of the public.
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad to kick off the programme, named ‘Ehsas’ (compassion), the premier said the first change that would be brought under the poverty alleviation plan would be amending Article 38(D) of the Constitution which included a clause regarding providing people with food, shelter, clothing, education and taking care of their health.
But the provision in its current form is only a policy recommendation, Khan noted, saying that the government would need to bring an amendment in the Constitution and make it a “fundamental right” so the state can guarantee these five things to the people of Pakistan. “This is the first step, it is a difficult task,” the premier said, adding that the government was putting the pressure on itself so that anyone will be able to go to the courts and say that this is their fundamental right.
Khan said under the programme, the money spent on underprivileged segments of society would be increased by Rs80 billion, and further by Rs120bn by 2020.“No government has so far spent so much money on poverty alleviation,” the premier claimed. Source: dawn.com
Monday, April 20, 2026
