Islamabad: The government of Pakistan has decided to launch the second phase of Ehsaas Emergency Cash (EEC) to mitigate the effects of coronavirus lockdown on the low-income segments of society, according to news sources.
Reportedly, under the said second phase of ECC, the government will extend the number of beneficiaries to 8 million people till June. All these beneficiaries will be provided with a 6-monthly tranche (January-June, 2021) of PKR 12,000 (each). This initiative was launched on April 9, 2020, and funds of PKR 179.27 billion were disbursed to 14.83 million people till September 15, 2020.
The responsibility for identification and funds disbursement of eligible beneficiaries was assigned to Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). As per the sources, BISP identified as many as 17 million deserving families under five categories – that also includes the existing beneficiaries of the Ehsaas Kafaalat initiative. The second phase of ECC was launched owing to the prevailing economic hardship mobilized by the third wave of coronavirus pandemic.
Subsequently, a formalized proposal is being formulated to be tabled before the ECC and the cabinet. Under the proposed programme, the record for these 8 million beneficiaries will be collected through the ongoing National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) survey to be matched with the eligibility criteria for Ehsaas Kafaalat (approved by the BISP Board).
Moreover, an additional 4 million beneficiaries will be identified through the ongoing NSER survey (against a higher eligibility threshold while remaining under the poverty line), and will also be provided one-time emergency cash assistance of PKR 12,000/- per beneficiary, starting May 2021.
The government has announced that cash disbursement will be carried out through existing partner banks of BISP (Bank Alfalah in KP, AJK & GB and Habib Bank Limited in Punjab, Balochistan & Sindh) via biometrically enabled ATMs and retail Points of Sale (POS) agents, as well as through dedicated bank branches for beneficiaries with thumb amputee/biometric failures. The current network of Bank Alfalah and Habib Bank Limited is being expanded for payments and special arrangements are being made to ensure the safe delivery of cash.
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