Ehsaas Rehribaan Programme

With a per capita GDP of over $75,000, New York City has a population of 8.4 million. City municipality has issued around 6,000 street vending permits. As per Urban Justice Center, a non-profit advocacy organization, there are over 20,000 street vendors operating in New York City. It means that 70% street vendors are irregular, whereas in 2021 New York municipality has announced to issue 4,000 additional vending permits. In June 2020, Li Keqiang, Prime Minister of China, extolled street vendors as the important source of sustaining employment during the pandemic of COVID-19. He particularly appreciated the initiative of Chengdu municipality, which issued 36,000 licenses to street vendors in one month during the pandemic period.   

In Pakistan, an estimated 8-12 million street vendors are operating. Pakistan seems to lack much behind than most of its contemporaries in initiating a structural approach for regulating a vibrant and resilient street economy. In Islamabad, tocal street economy of estimated 20,000 vendors has the potential of generating Rs. 480 million in government revenues and annual turnover in the range of Rs.36-43 billion.

In collaboration with the Capital Development Authority, Ehsaas has implemented the Rehribaan initiative to give street hawkers licenses, which will enable their protection against predatory elements. This project is currently in its nascent stages and is being upscaled incrementally based on evidence.  The initiative aims to create an enabling environment for street vendors in Islamabad. 

‘Ehsaas Rehribaan’ has embarked upon furthering local vending to improve overall ecology. The model vending initiative is an outcome of collaboration between the Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Division (PASSD), Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), ICT Administration and Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

This initiative has been taken under the direct policy directives of the Prime Minister. It creates opportunities for livelihoods and contributes to climate change efforts through solar system-fitted carts.

Over 200 street vendors have been provided vending licenses along with new modular and solar system fitted vending carts, sourced through either microfinance loans or donations. It has resulted in the vending fee generation of Rs. 4.8 million, capital investment of over PKR 20 million and monthly turnover of around PKR 30 million. A single street vendor can at least generate a one-direct job of Rs. 15,000 monthly salary.

The Ehsaas Rehribaan Programme has the strong transparency element attached, which is based upon the survey of only existing street vendors. U Microfinance Bank and Apna Microfinance Bank are the pivot for the programme with zero default rate in cart loans till date.


VIDEOS

Ehsaas Rehri Baan program (short documentary)

Ehsaas Rehribaan Program beneficiary expresses his views

Ehsaas Rehribaan Program beneficiary expresses his views