Sixty-nine billion rupees have so far been disbursed to 5.75 million families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program.

This was stated by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Dr. Sania Nishtar at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday.

She said a cash assistance of twelve thousand rupees each is being given to the deserving families under this program. She said these families have been selected in the most  transparent manner after scrutinizing the data.

She said an alternative mechanism will shortly be introduced for those who are facing thumb impression problem.

The Special Assistant said that safety measures have been ensured at the cash disbursement points in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Sania Nishtar said a ration distribution portal has been activated to connect the philanthropists with the deserving families.

PTI leader Shahbaz Gill asked the opposition parties to avoid politics in the current situation. He stressed that we need to get together to meet the challenge posed by coronavirus. 

Sania Nishtar said strict action is being taken against the retailers involved in deduction from 12,000 rupees given to the beneficiaries.

She said the efforts are also underway to overcome the hurdles being faced by the applicants through their feedback and complaints.

About the Ehsaas Rashan portal, Dr. Nishtar briefed that this portal has been opened to facilitate the private sector in providing food rations to the most vulnerable affected in wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader, Dr. Shahbaz Gill said it is very unfortunate that the Sindh government is doing politics on Ehsaas program as well as the prevailing health crisis in the country.

He said present government has not displayed any picture of Prime Minister and Dr. Sania on the posters of the Ehsaas or any other initiative.

He said Sindh government has also done politics on Coronavirus testing kits and returned to the federal government terming them not workable. The same kits are being used by the National Institute of Health and are giving accurate results.

(Zahid/Haider/NNR/Khokhar)