Some 690,000 social insurance beneficiaries are expected to benefit from a free and low-cost purchase card scheme, according to a high-ranking source in the Ministry of Social Affairs. The scheme is being planned on the lines of the Food Stamp Program already running in many countries, which helps low-income people and families buy the foodstuff they need. The program has got Royal backing, said the source. The purchase cards, which will be distributed within 90 days of the program implementation, will have a monthly limit on buying the foodstuff. Once the limit is reached, the beneficiary can purchase his needs at special discounts. Authorities are studying two options to implement the scheme: either supermarkets and hypermarkets will be offered to run the program so as to curb the abuse such as exchanging supplies for cash, or an agreement will be signed with supply shops all over the Kingdom to offer supplies on the production of these cards by beneficiaries. In both cases, it will be mandatory for shops and supermarkets to open branches even in remote areas so as to serve the beneficiaries.
