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Prime Minister visits Ehsaas Emergency Cash payment site in Peshawar to reviews arrangements

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April 10, 2020 – Peshawar: Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the Ehsaas Emergency Cash payment point in Peshawar and reviewed arrangements. He was briefed by Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the PM on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation about the measures being taken by the government for provision of financial assistance to poor in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PM also oversaw Emergency Cash handout of Rs. 12, 000 each to families of daily wagers. He appreciated the provincial government of KP’s steps against Coronavirus saying in the present situation, the focus of government must also be on provision of relief to the weak and poor segments of the society. The distribution of Rs 12,000 each to the deserving families under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme had started across the country, including the KP on April 9, under a transparent digital payment mechanism. Under the programme, the government would disburse some Rs. 144 billion among the poor and deserving families across the country. Some 2.2 million poor families have been identified in the KP, who would be facilitated directly from the programme. Around 3,500 Ehsaas cash payment points have been set up across KP.

Social distancing is priority as Ehsaas commences Emergency Cash Payments

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April 9, 2020 – Islamabad: Safeguarding all precautionary measures, the payment process under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program has begun to support the deserving families affected by the lockdown. The safety and security of the Ehsaas Emergency Cash beneficiaries arriving to collect cash assistance is the top priority of the government. With opening of as many as 17,000 digital payment points, the biometrically enabled payment operation has commenced countrywide across all provinces including GB, AJK and Islamabad Capital Territory. All these cash transfers are being made after biometric verification of each beneficiary through NADRA. Under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash framework, an immediate cash relief of Rs. 12,000 will be extended each to families of daily wage earners, whose livelihood has been badly affected by the corona-induced economic downturn. Overall, Rs. 144 billion will be disbursed to more than 12 million families during the next two and a half weeks. For now, as many as 46.38 million people have sent SMS requesting to become beneficiaries of Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program. To monitor the payment operations, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation visited HBL Konnect outlets in Bari Imam area of Islamabad and met with spouses of piece rate workers who had gathered to collect cash handouts under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program. Footage here.

Dr. Sania interacts with laborers to ascertain how Ehsaas Emergency Cash can benefit them

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April 6, 2020 – Islamabad: To ascertain how labourers and daily wagers are making use of Ehsaas Emergency Cash service 8171, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Sania Nishtar went to F-7 Markaz in the federal capital and interacted with labourers’ congregation in the market. She talked to labourers and informed them about various aspects of the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program from generating the SMS message to comprehending the subsequent communication and then to navigate the payment system. Speaking to laborers, Dr. Nishtar assured, “We will mobilize volunteers who can go to these places of laborer’s congregations so that they can message on their behalf.” Footage here.

Radio Program – Raabta: Transfer of Ehsaas Emergency Cash assistance to deserving families would begin this week: Dr. Sania

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April 6, 2020 – Islamabad: In the Radio Pakistan’s COVID-19 special program ‘Raabta’ that is a daily national broadcast, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Sania stated that transfer of cash assistance of Rs.12,000 to deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program would begin this week. She said deserving people should send an SMS to 8171 and so far over 34 million messages have been received through this service. Under this programme, a deserving family will get a one-time assistance of Rs.12,000 to cater daily needs for four months. Elaborating the eligibility criteria to listeners, she said there will three types of messages in response of people’s SMS like eligible, ineligible, or contact to the concerned district administration. She said those, who will get a message asking to contact the district administration, can also register themselves online at the web-portal: Listen here: 

Dr. Sania Nishtar addresses a press conference with regard to Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program

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April 5, 2020 -Islamabad: Addressing a press conference with Press Information Department, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation explained beneficiary identification process, SMS campaign & its process flow, district level verification procedure, wealth profiling criteria, & payment mechanism designed for Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program. She briefed the media that the payment process under the program would start this week to support the vulnerable segments of society, affected due to lockdown amid Coronavirus threat. This program will benefit the deserving people from all the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan. “Existing 4.5 million Kafaalat beneficiaries, who were getting regular cash transfer of 2000 rupees per month, would be given additional one thousand rupees; hence, they too would get a tranche of Rs. 12,000 covering four months. Further, higher eligibility or poverty threshold would be considered to identify 4 million beneficiaries through the national socioeconomic databases, while another 3.5 million people would come from districts”, she added. Footage here

Radio Program- Raabta: Dr. Nishtar introduces Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program SMS Service 8171 to masses

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April 2, 2020 -Islamabad: Participating in Radio Programme Raabta, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Sania Nishtar provided details about the SMS service 8171 launched to facilitate the deserving families to benefit from Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program who are facing financial problems due to Corona Virus. She added that a cash grant of  Rs.12,000 will be given to the deserving families through a transparent mechanism. Special Assistant to the PM said that the deserving families desiring to benefit from the program have to send their national identity card numbers on the SMS code 8171. She also said that Ehsaas Ration Platform will be formally launched soon to connect people wanting to donate food ration to people in need. At least, thirty five thousand deserving families and over six hundred donors have so far got themselves registered on the online platform. Dr. Sania Nishtar clarified that the deserving families can simultaneously benefit from both these programs. Listen here: 

PM launches Ehsaas Emergency Cash initiative worth Rs. 144 billion to support 12 million needy families affected by COVID19 crisis

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April 1, 2020 – Islamabad: Prime Minister has launched Ehsaas Emergency Cash program in the context of the economic hardship being experienced by the vulnerable due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The program covers 12 million families; 12,000 per family and the total budget for this initiative is Rs. 144 billion. Speaking at the occasion, PM Imran Khan said, “The financial assistance under this program is meant to help people in need particularly labourers and daily wagers to buy rations so that their families don’t go hungry”. An SMS campaign will be the entry point to identify these beneficiaries. Through an aggressive communication campaign, citizens will be informed that they can send an SMS on 8171 to check their eligibility status. PM inaugurated the initiative by texting his CNIC number to 8171. “To address inclusion errors, special data analytics on defined parameters (Government officials, those owning cars, and those with history of multiple foreign travel) will be applied by NADRA on all categories of potential beneficiaries”, said Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the PM on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation.