The first meeting of Ehsaas Communications Committee was held on Friday at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to discuss the communications strategic planning process, identify communications needs and priorities for Ehsaas Programme and define key respective areas of execution for different organisations involved in the implementation of Ehsaas Programme under the umbrella of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (PASSD). Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar chaired the meeting. In its first meeting, participants discussed the key elements of the Ehsaas communications strategy that is in its final stages of being developed. “The core objective of the strategy is to apprise potential beneficiaries about ways of accessing benefits”, Dr Nishtar emphasized. The committee has been constituted with representation from all organizations involved in the execution of Ehsaas under PASSD. The meeting was attended by Shaista Sohail, Secretary PASSD, Capt (r) Asadullah Khan, Additional Secretary, Dr Arsalan Khalid, Focal Person to the PM on Digital Media, representatives of the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, provincial representatives and communication focal persons from agencies that are involved in implementing Ehsaas. The committee took important communication related decisions with regard to the stakeholders. It was decided in the meeting that in order to ensure effective participation from provinces and in Ehsaas communications, the committee will be expanded. Dr Nishtar urged the committee to manage the publicity, communications and media activities of the Ehsaas on print, electronic and social media as a way to share information among opinion makers, influencers and masses and to coordinate outreach and advocacy activities as a way to connect with general public, deprived communities, scholars, researchers, decision-makers, and others among the general public with a main focus on the graduation of poor and marginalized with dignity and respect.