Govt receives millions of SMS on 8171 under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Dr. Sania Nishtar  said government have started receiving millions of SMS on 8171 for the twelve thousand cash grant for families which are affecting more from the coronavirus pandemic.

Radio Pakistan reported that while speaking to the one of its programs, SAPM said this Emergency Cash Program has been formally launched on Wednesday 24 march for the daily wagers and those people who are facing financial problems due to coronavirus.

Dr. Sania Nishtar said the families who are deserving will be able to draw the cash grant from  next Wednesday adding that transparency has been ensured in the program by using the technology based system.

The Special Assistant said that government is ensuring there is no disruption in transportation of goods in order to ensure availability of essential commodities to the people.

She said the decision to extend the partial lockdown till 14th of this month has been taken to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier, Dr Sania Nishtar announced that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has been approved for 10 million people, in which Rs12,000 will be given to a family. In her tweets, she noted that 67 million people across Pakistan would benefit from the plan.

Approved: “#Ehsaas Emergency Cash program” for 10 million afectees. Rs. 12,000 per family. 67 million people will benefit (given household size). Daily wage earners are our top priority, whose livelihood has been badly affected by the corona-induced economic downturn 1/6

— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020

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 2/6

— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020

(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 4/6

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— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020

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. 5/6

— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020

“Daily wage earners are our top priority, whose livelihood has been badly affected by the corona-induced economic downturn,” she tweeted.

She further said that the affectees are put into three categories — 4.5 million existing Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries, all of whom were women, 3 million affectees will be identified through the national socioeconomic database, and around 2.5 million to be identified through the Ehsaas SMS route.

Eligibility for the second category will be “relaxed upwards” as the people who previously earned up to Rs20,000 and “have now suffered economic shock and are without livelihood” would be helped.