PM Imran approves subsidized air tickets for overseas labourers

ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move for the welfare of labourers, Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Tuesday formally approved ‘Mazdoor ka Ehsas Program’ under which overseas Pakistani labourers, who could not visit homeland for seven year, would be provided subsidized air tickets.

The decision was made during a meeting held in Islamabad with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair regarding government measures for the welfare of laborers. The ‘Mazdoor ka Ehsas Program’ will formally be launched on World Labor Day (today).

Speaking on the occasion, PM Imran Khan said: “It is PTI government’s top priority to protect the rights of vulnerable segments of the society, domestic workers and house servants.”

He said that the government planned various measures for the welfare of labourers which would be implemented gradually in the country.

The prime minister termed the ‘Mazdoor Ka Ehsas Program’ the biggest poverty alleviation program in the history of Pakistan.

Briefing the meeting, Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Dr Sania Nishtar said that 115 social welfare programmes were being set up for workers.

She said that initially all the labourers would be registered in the country so as to ensure provision of their pension and other facilities.

Nishtar said: “Under the programme, the number of welfare attachés deployed in Pakistani embassies will be increased.” She said that they would also establish more offices of ‘Protector of Immigration.’

“A market information system would be launched to protect the rights of overseas Pakistani workers,” she added.

Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Dr Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the PM on Overseas Pakistanis and human resource development Zulfi Bukhari, Special Assistant to the PM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Spokesperson to the PM Nadeem Afzal Chan, representatives of International Labour Organization, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others were present on the occasion.