Bro, it’s 3:27 a.m. and I’m lying here with one eye open, beer’s finished, too lazy to go to the fridge, phone on full brightness burning my eyes, and I don’t even know why I’m typing this whole essay about the Ehsaas Program… but my heart just felt like it. Honestly, sometimes I feel a little jealous seeing what’s happening with social welfare in Pakistan 😂 ngl.
What Actually Is the Ehsaas Program?
So basically, the Ehsaas Program isn’t some small-time scheme — it’s a massive umbrella under which more than 100 different initiatives are running. Imran Khan launched it in 2019 and gave those dramatic lines like “no one in Pakistan will sleep hungry now.” At first it felt like typical politician nonsense, but deadass they’re actually doing real work even today. Now whichever government comes, no one has the guts to change its name 😂
Main Components of Ehsaas (The Big Ones)
Listen up, these are the major parts:
- Ehsaas Kafaalat – The biggest one. Direct cash to women every month or quarter. Now in 2024-25 it’s around 12-14k quarterly or something like that — proper “here aunty, go shopping” vibes. Given mostly to women because experience shows men would blow half of it on booze 🤦♂️ I’ve seen this in my own colony, bro.
- Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship – This one wins my heart. Poor kids who score first division get full scholarships in government colleges. I had a friend in Lahore whose sister got it — she used to cry on calls saying “bro, now I’ll become a doctor.” Hearing that actually makes your heart happy fr 😭
- Ehsaas Nashonuma – Special nutrition for pregnant women and kids under 2 years: peanut-butter-style paste, medicines, regular growth checks at centers. Malnourishment was a huge issue in Punjab and Balochistan — it’s slowly coming under control now.
- Ehsaas Amdan (Income) – This is the livelihood part. They give training, goats, sewing machines, tools, interest-free loans for small shops. Not just food — they’re pushing people to earn for themselves. This part deserves the most respect tbh.
And there’s a ton more: health card with up to 1 million free treatment, interest-free loans, langar scheme, panahgah shelters for the homeless… bro the list is so long I get tired just reading it 😂
Who Is Eligible?
Simple, bro — if you’re properly poor, have a CNIC, no government job in the family, no big property, no Ferrari parked outside 😂 then you mostly qualify. They use this PMT (Proxy Means Test) score system: do you have a fridge, bike, cooler, how much is your electricity bill… everything goes in and they give you a score. If it’s 0-23 — jackpot.
How to Apply (Dead Easy)
SMS your CNIC to 8171 → reply comes in 2 minutes telling you if you’re eligible. If yes, go to a center, do biometric, done. It used to be a lot of drama before, now it’s pretty easy… though in villages people still don’t know properly — awareness is still a big issue.
Real Impact
Stats say millions of families got cash, hundreds of thousands of kids got scholarships, countless lives saved with the health card. Even the World Bank is praising it now. They’re actually showing real numbers, not just speeches.
Problems That Still Exist
Obviously issues remain — money still doesn’t reach some areas on time, a little local-level corruption, centers are too far in remote areas… people in Balochistan sometimes die on the road trying to reach one. A lot still needs fixing.
Conclusion
But bro, honestly from the heart — if this program actually runs consistently for 10-15 years without politics, without the next government shutting it down… Pakistan’s middle class will grow for real. The cycle of poverty will break. Kids will study, health will improve, people will start their own businesses — actual development will happen.
I still remember 2020 lockdown when they gave emergency cash of 12k per family. A friend in Karachi, single mom, got it and told me “bro, for the first time it felt like the government even saw us.” That feeling… it’s worth more than money.
Anyway, I’m actually going to sleep now… eyes closing… phone about to fall. If anyone from Pakistan is reading this and actually needs it — just apply, bro. Send a message to 8171, don’t stress. Maybe life gets a little easier tomorrow. Goodnight yaar 😭💤 Peace out.
