Islamabad, Oct 7 (IANS): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched a food scheme that aims to combat hunger throughout the country.

The Ehsaas-Saylani Langar Scheme, which has been launched in coordination with the Saylani Trust, one of the country's biggest welfare organisations, aims to provide hygienic food to the poor, reports Dawn news.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Ehsaas Programme's head Sania Nishtar said that the government intends to open 112 soup kitchens in the first phase of the scheme, which would be completed in a year.

The soup kitchens will provide food to 600 people in the capital on a daily basis.

She said that the prime minister wanted every person in the country to sleep well-fed and under a shelter.

Nishtar recalled that the premier had ordered the launch of 'panahgahs' (rest homes) for the homeless, that have now been opened across the country and now the government was establishing soup kitchens to feed the poor as well.