PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Monday launched the province-wide Ehsaas Umeed Programme, an initiative designed to support individuals with severe disabilities across the province.
Under the newly introduced scheme, 10,000 persons with significant disabilities will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 each.The programme, which covers the period from January to June 2026, will cost the provincial government a total of Rs 300 million during the current fiscal year.
As part of another welfare initiative, the chief minister also handed over 23 newly procured vehicles to the Director of Social Welfare, aimed at providing free transport facility to students enrolled in the 54 special education institutions operating under the administrative control of the Social Welfare Department. These vehicles have been purchased at a total cost of Rs 377 million.
A ceremony marking the formal launch of Ehsaas Umeed and the inauguration of the transport fleet was held at the Special Education Complex in Hayatabad, where the chief minister was the chief guest.
During the briefing, officials explained that the Ehsaas Umeed Programme places primary focus on individuals living with severe disabilities.Financial assistance under the scheme will be transferred directly to beneficiaries, through biometric verification to ensure transparency and accuracy.
The selection of eligible recipients will be carried out through the Zakat Management Information System. Authorities detailed the transport initiative, noting that the newly purchased vehicles include 12 mini-buses and 11 Hiace vans, aimed at facilitating daily commute for children enrolled in special education schools.
The provincial government will distribute 2,000 electric wheelchairs to persons with disabilities.In addition, 2,500 manual wheelchairs, 800 tricycles, 3,600 sewing machines, 617 hearing aids, 102 white canes, 44 crutches and 96 walkers will also be provided to individuals with disabilities across the province, at a collective cost of Rs. 760 million.
Addressing the ceremony, Sohail Afridi instructed that the funds available in the Zakat account be disbursed immediately among rightful beneficiaries and directed the authorities to ensure that assistive devices are extended to persons with disabilities residing in the merged districts as well.
He announced that transport facilities would soon be extended to schools in the merged districts and directed the authorities to ensure the immediate provision of all missing facilities in special education institutions across the province.
The chief minister noted that the provincial government was financing all such welfare initiatives from its own resources, while more than Rs 3,000 billion owed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the federal government remain unpaid.He said that the province would be able to deliver substantially for people if the outstanding amount was released by the federation.
