Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr. Sania Nishtar says Federal Government will provide 12,000 rupees cash grant each to 12 million deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program in the wake of COVID-19.

Speaking in a Radio Pakistan's Program, she asked deserving people to send their CNIC number 8171 to get the grant. She said the cash grant is aimed at helping the deserving families, especially the daily wages class, when economic activities in the country have come to a halt due to Coronavirus outbreak. She said 12 million families will be benefited from this programme.

Regarding identification of the deserving families, Dr Sania Nishtar said any request for cash grant has to pass through a data analysis process to determine whether the applicant is a deserving person or not. She said NADRA's data also offers a great help in this regard. She said there might be three types of responses to an SMS for cash grant; first you are eligible, second contact to your relevant district administration, and lastly you are not eligible. She said you are not eligible for the cash grant if you or your spouse is a government employee, undertook foreign trips, own car, and paying phone bills of one thousand rupees a month for six months. She said some may receives a response to contact to his or her concerned district administration. She said lists of deserving people are being prepared in offices of assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners at local levels. She said that after thorough scrutiny, we will receive these lists through a web portal. She said by Monday all the eligible deserving families will receive a message that they can get the cash grant from a particular place. 

Responding to a question, the Special Assistant said that a proposal will be presented to the cabinet to enhance allocations for the cash grant if we receive more than 12 million responses from the deserving families. She said that normally on average basis there are seven members in a family in Pakistan and 12 million families’ means the government is going to provide help to over eighty million people across the country. She said it is a big challenge for us that the amount is transferred to the deserving families in a transparent and just manner.  She said the eligible deserving families should ensure that they are receiving the full amount of 12,000 rupees from the point mentioned in the SMS, which include designated points of HBL Konnect, Bank Al-Falah, Easypaisa, and E-Sahulat centers of NADRA. She said prompt information should be provided to police and on our helpline if someone denies paying full amount. He said the deserving families will get their amount from there after putting a thumb impression.  She made it clear that if a female receives the SMS then she has to receive the amount and similar course will be adopted in case of male applicant.

Replaying to another question, Dr Sania Nishtar said that we are calling upon the provincial authorities to allow points like Easypaisa shops to remain open during lockdown to the facilitation of poor people. She said these points have also been declared as essential services providers.  She also urged the cash grant recipients to spend this amount wisely and buy daily items as per their needs instead of going for shopping spree. She assured that there will be no shortage of food and other daily items.  Sania Nishtar said we are ensuring that there is no disruption in transportation of goods in order for availability of essential commodities to the people. She said the deserving families will be able to draw the cash grant from Wednesday next.  She also made it clear that every deserving Pakistani family, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or ethnicity, is entitled to get the assistance under Ehsas Emergency Cash Scheme by sending an SMS carrying his or her CNIC number to 8171. She, however, urged the people to refrain from sending this SMS, if, after self-assessment, they feel that they have sufficient resources for three months. 

Replying to a question, she said the decision to extend the partial lockdown till 14th of this month has been taken to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Answering a caller from Islamabad, Dr Sania Nishtar said if a person receives that he is not eligible for cash grant then he can access Facebook page of Ehsas programme and put his particulars under ration scheme from where he will be accommodated. 

Replying to another caller from Azad Kashmir, Sania Nishtar said our system is facing congestion as millions of SMS are being processed and there might be some delay in receiving a response.

Akram/Asmaa