As Corona Virus has sent citizens from around the country to a state of Quarantine where companies and institutions have to work from home. This has resulted in individuals having to have a significantly lesser pool of cash in terms of daily wages. As individuals hope to find a solution to the current wages issue, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar was recently noted to have said that the ‘Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme’, would benefit around 67 million people around Pakistan.
According to Dr Sania Nishtar’s official twitter handle, she said: “I will do a press conference this week to explain how the “#Ehsaas Emergency Cash and SMS program” will be implemented”. Previously, Dr Nishtar announced that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme had been approved for 10 million people, wherein Rs12,000 would be provided per family. She noted that 67 million people in total would benefit from the new plan and they plan to cater to daily wage earners who have been badly affected by COVID-19.
According to her Twitter thread, she stated that: “There are three categories in the 10 million. (1) 4.5 million existing #Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries (all women) already getting Rs. 2000 will get extra Rs. 1000 emergency relief (total=Rs.3000) for the next 4months…(2) Three million afectees will be identified through our national socioeconomic database. Eligibility threshold will be relaxed upwards. Those with previous incomes upto 20,000who have now suffered economic shock and are without livelihood will be helped through #Ehsaas…(3) An SMS campaign, to be launched in 2 weeks will allow others, not currently enrolled in the database to seek assistance. District Administrations will conduct assessments speedily after SMS is received. Around 2.5 million will be identified through the #Ehsaas SMS route. Data analytics will be used to ensure that the system is not abused. CNICs of those declared eligible will be passed to #Ehsaas partner banks @HBLPak @BankAlfalahPAK and simultaneously an SMS message will be sent to them directing them to collect money through nearest bank. We will ensure coronavirus protection measures during #Ehsaas payments: use of hand-washing/disinfectants at cash disbursement sites, increase in number of Point of Sales to < crowding, special sites, distancing in queues & use of new currency notes #COVID19Pakistan”.
