Muhammad Ijaz Afridi
PESHAWAR: Several major welfare and employment-related initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are facing delays and operational slowdowns due to reported funding shortages and delayed disbursements, according to official documents and correspondence.
The situation has affected key provincial programmes aimed at job creation and housing support, including the “Ehsaas Rozgar Programme,” “Ehsaas Nojawan Programme,” and the “Ehsaas Apna Ghar Scheme,” leaving thousands of applicants awaiting assistance.
According to a formal letter sent to the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the welfare organization Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance, several bureaucratic hurdles and funding constraints have significantly slowed implementation of ongoing and planned schemes.
The letter stated that the Ehsaas Rozgar Programme, launched in November 2024 with an allocated budget of Rs4 billion, has so far received only Rs40 million in disbursements. It added that the majority of funds remain unreleased, affecting more than 3,000 applicants whose cases are reportedly pending.
Similarly, the Ehsaas Nojawan Programme, managed under the Youth Affairs Department, is also facing delays. Officials said that out of the approved Rs2 billion allocation, Rs1.4 billion has been released to implementing partners, while the remaining Rs600 million is still pending.
The correspondence further highlighted that a proposed initiative for youth in merged districts, with an estimated cost of Rs2 billion, has yet to be formally implemented despite approval discussions.
The housing-focused Ehsaas Apna Ghar Scheme is also reported to be progressing slowly, with draft agreements between the Housing Department and implementing partners nearing finalization but not yet formally executed.
The developments have raised concerns among applicants and stakeholders, with thousands of beneficiaries still awaiting financial support or access to programme benefits.
Officials have not yet issued a formal public statement on the delays or the timeline for the release of pending funds.
