ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Under the umbrella of Ehsaas, the concept of truck kitchens ‘Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye’ (EKBNS) was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 10, 2021 to serve free meal boxes twice a day to daily wage earners in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
On special instructions of the prime minister, the programme is now being expanded to three other cities before the Holy Month of Ramazan.
Across Lahore, Faisalabad, and Peshawar, EKBNS mobile trucks carrying cooked food will visit the localities of labourers and hospitals to distribute free meals.
میں نے کل راولپنڈی مری روڈ پر ‘احساس کوئی بھوکا نہ سوئے’ پروگرام کے تحت کھانے کے ٹرک کے ذریعے مزدور اور مستحق افراد میں کھانے کی تقسیم کا جائزہ لیا۔ جڑواں شہروں میں مختلف مقامات پر دو ٹرکوں سے روزانہ 3ہزار افراد میں دو وقت کا کھانا تقسیم کیا جاتا ہے۔1/2#EhsaasKoiBhookaNaSoye pic.twitter.com/Dgs13KABdY
— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) April 5, 2021
دورے کے دوران ‘احساس کوئی بھوکا نہ سوئے’ کے ذریعے کھانے اور خدمت کے معیار پر مزدور بھائیوں سے سیر حاصل گفتگو ہوئی۔ وزیراعظم کی ہدایت پر رمضان میں پروگرام کا دائرۂ کار مزید تین شہروں تک بڑھایا جا رہا ہے۔ اس سلسلے میں تیاریاں آخری مراحل میں ہیں۔2/2#EhsaasKoiBhookaNaSoye pic.twitter.com/nG0Pb7mW4p
— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) April 5, 2021
Detailing EKBNS operations, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar said “In an initial phase, the two trucks are currently serving the poor and labour class of the twin cities. Each truck feeds 1500 people daily on designated service points. With the upcoming expansion to 3 other cities through 12 new truck kitchens- the EKBNS would explicitly target those who cannot access Ehsaas Panagahs and Ehsaas Langars.”
According to a statement, EKBNS is Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for the year 2021.
While inaugurating Tarnol Panagah in Islamabad on the evening of the new year, the prime minister had committed his resolution for the year 2021 that EKBNS would be rolled out to make sure that no one goes to bed empty stomach.
The delivery of free meals will help the poor, deserving, labourers and piece-rate workers save their hard-earned money to feed their children and families.
The programme will be upscaled to other parts of the country later this year in phases. Designed to serve healthy meals, EKBNS truck kitchens are well equipped with safe cooking appliances.
EKBNS is founded on a public-private partnership whereby the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal is responsible for the operations of truck kitchens and Saylani Welfare International Trust for the provision of meals.
The Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division has established a ‘Donor Coordination Group’ to encourage the private sector to fund the programme. Commitments by philanthropists, the private sector, international agencies, civil society, and individuals will be routed by the coordination group.
