PM launches Micro Health Insurance programme for KPK today

Peshawar: Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Micro Health Insurance Programme today (Wednesday) during his day-long visit to Peshawar. 

Under the Kamyab Pakistan Programme, the micro health insurance will provide free medical services worth Rs 1 million annually to 7.5 million families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).  

He was addressing a ceremony after launching ‘Kaamyab Pakistan Program’ in Peshawar today [Wednesday].

He said under the program, the government will provide interest-free loans and technical training to two-million families of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Prime Minister said the government is also launching another important program ‘Ehsas Ration Riayat’ to provide relief to deserving families in the wake of the current price hike.

Under the program, three basic commodities including wheat, cooking oil/ghee and pulses will be provided at subsidized rates to more than twenty million families across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Imran Khan directed the Governor, Chief Minister, Ministers and MPAs to create awareness amongst the deserving families about Ehsas Ration Program for maximum registration.

The Prime Minister lauded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for the universal health insurance scheme for the whole population in the province.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was the pioneer of the scheme and now Punjab and Balochistan are also following in its footsteps.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government is providing merit-based scholarships to six point three million students across the country. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said Ehsas Ration program has been launched to provide relief to the deserving families.

He said government has decided to increase the monthly honorarium of Khateebs up to twenty-one thousand rupees.

Imran Khan arrived in Peshawar despite being directed by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to not visit in view of the forthcoming local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). 

According to a letter by regional election commissioner, Prime Minister has been asked not to visit Peshawar ahead of scheduled local bodies’ elections in the KP on December 19. 

The ECP, hence, warned Imran Khan of legal action in case of any violation of its code of conduct under Sections 233 and 234 of the Election Act of Pakistan.  

Referring to ECP’s notice, KP Minister for High Education Kamran Bangash clarified that Prime Minister’s visit to Peshawar is of a “purely official nature”.

“He will only take part in a ceremony at the Governor's House and will not attend any election or public gathering in Peshawar,” he added.

He further added that the day was part of the day-to-day affairs of the state and there should be no restriction on such visits.