October 5, 2020: At a global e-conference hosted by the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG), Pakistan was labelled as one of the top ranked countries in Asia having the highest response to social protection amid COVID-19 pandemic. This new study was conducted by UNICEF, UN and IPC-IG to assess social protection response in Asia focusing on an extensive mapping and overview of how social protection measures were deployed by the countries in Asia and the Pacific region in the response to the COVID-19 crisis. The study reveals that Pakistan covers highest number of responses to social protection in Asia through Ehsaas Emergency Cash. “Afghanistan included many humanitarian interventions; hence Pakistan tops the list”, says Marina Andrade, researcher from IPC-IG team. Social protection.org is the key initiative of IPC-IG which is supported by Governments of Australia and Germany and is an influential forum of social protection. The country panel on Asia Pacific brought together SAPM Dr. Sania Nishtar, Bapak Maliki, Director of Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare Indonesia and H.E. Theng Pagnathun, Delegate of Royal Government of Cambodia in charge of Director General of Planning who discussed social protection responses to COVID-19 in their respective countries.
