Islamabad: The government has approved PKR 26.5 billion to provide one-time cash assistance of PKR 12,000 to extra four million households because of the unemployment caused by COVID-19, according to a news published on May 27.
The beneficiaries will be given a 6-monthly portion of PRK 12,000 under the Ehsaas Kafalat. It was reported that the estimated cost of this one-time assistance is PKR 48 billion and the additional beneficiaries will be selected through the ongoing National Socioeconomic Registry Survey (NSER) with a high eligibility threshold while remaining below the poverty line.
The payment process will be started within this month and it will be provided through biometrically ATM, retail Point of Sale agents and back branches.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet presided over by Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin also permitted expanding the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to 8 million families under the Ehsaas emergency programme 2nd Phase.
The Minister also said that it has planned to increase the number of Ehsaas Kafalat beneficiaries to 8 million by June 2021 through the ongoing NSER.
It was decided that the amount PKR 12 billion paid under BISP will be compensated by the government. The PKR 22 billion savings will help in paying 1.8 million extra beneficiaries. Also, ECC also agreed to an extra budget of PKR 26.4 billion to meet the needs of the remaining 2.2 million in the next fiscal year.
Last year, the federal government started Ehsaas Emergency Cash (EEC) programme to lessen the impact of COVID-19.
Iqra holds BS in International Relations and is passionate about writing engaging content on trending real estate topics. When not working, she is either spending time with family, shopping, or discussing shows & movies.
