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CE to announce food stamps programme on March 23

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf will announce his government's Food Stamp Programme on March 23 this year, official sources informed Fortuna on Friday.

The proposed programme to provide an effective safety net for the poorest of poor in Pakistan was announced by Chief Executive General Musharraf in his December 15 address to the nation that outlined his economic recovery programme.

Officials attending a meeting to finalise the preliminary draft of the proposed programme on Thursday told Fortuna the programme will be finalised towards end February when provinces return their suggestions to the federal authorities assigned the task of chalking out a comprehensive programme.

Dr. Atiya Inayatullah, member National Security Council, heads the committee that will finalise the programme after assessing feedback from provincial governments.

Sources said Dr Inayatullah chaired a meeting of representatives of the federal and provincial governments on Thursday where several issues relating to the proposed programme were discussed threadbare.

Officials attending the meeting said the meeting discussed issues relating to the implementation mechanism and special checks and balances to protect the interest of vulnerable sections of the society including women and minorities.

The representatives from the Balochistan province pointed out during the meeting that the proposed Food Stamp Programme should not be linked with the National Finance Commission award as poverty had no direct relevance with the provincial population. Participants appreciated the concern of the Balochistan government's representative and agreed that a detailed exercise to assess the number of people below the poverty line in each province was required before proceeding any further with a formula for distribution of funds for the programme.

It was also agreed that the provinces would inform the Centre about the required funds for the programme only after careful scrutiny and identification of the most deserving poor.

The meeting also noted that in the rural areas of Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP, where women are not given due rights and the society is male dominated, separate committees would be formed to approach poor women in order to ensure just distribution of stamps.

Another issue, which the meeting touched, was fair and equitable benefit to the minority communities. "The meeting observed that there should be no prejudice against the minorities and they should also be entertained like other communities," said the sources. These sources further said the meeting agreed to look into the proposal of forming of separate committees of minority representatives to identify the deserving among minority communities to avoid any prejudice against minorities.

The meeting also noted that the Food Stamp Programme would have a positive impact on reduction of poverty in the country along with other programmes.

The sources informed that the provinces have been asked to come back with their suggestions and proposals on the draft proposal by mid-February. Fortuna