The Ehsaas Emergency Cash program in Pakistan is one of the largest social protection programs in the history of the country. This innovative program was unveiled during the
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash program in Pakistan is one of the largest social protection programs in the history of the country. This innovative program was unveiled during the COVID-19 crisis to provide financial support to more than 15 million families at the time when it was most needed. Regardless of whether you want to know about the latest changes, payment dates, or eligibility criteria, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program.
The program is not only financial assistance; it is a symbol of how Pakistan wants to ensure that its most vulnerable citizens are taken care of in times that it has never witnessed before. The program covered almost 50 percent of the Pakistani population with Rs. 179 billion being shared in the country, and it was the biggest social protection intervention in the history of Pakistan.
In March 2020, the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program was introduced as a Pakistani reaction to the economic catastrophe of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government came to the rescue with this humongous relief package when livelihoods were being destroyed across the nation due to lockdowns and health restrictions.
All the eligible families were given one-time emergency cash assistance of Rs. 12,000 to meet immediate subsistence. The program was based on the latest digital technology such as biometric payment methods and big data analytics to achieve transparent and efficient distribution.
The distinguishing feature of this program was a hybrid targeting strategy. It was a mix of emergency support to families that were already known to be vulnerable with demand-based support to the new poor, people who became financially strained because of the economic consequences of the pandemic.
Since the first launch of the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program, it has been updated in a significant way. Phase two of the program increased support to an extra 12 million families selected by the use of comprehensive Ehsaas surveys.
The digital infrastructure of the program has been constantly optimized to make it more accessible and decrease the time of processing. Recent improvement is in the mobile wallet features, where beneficiaries can now receive payments using cashless banking systems which is a major milestone in financial inclusion of the vulnerable groups in Pakistan.
A big development has been international recognition. The World Bank ranked Ehsaas Emergency Cash program third in the world in percentage of the population covered and fourth in the world by the number of people reached. The program has been commended by organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum and the United Nations because of its innovative approach.
The emergency cash disbursements were allocated in provinces of Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Islamabad between April 9, 2020, and October 30, 2020. The process of systematic distribution guaranteed delivery of payments to the deserving families in the form of safe and biometrically authenticated transactions.
The program handled a phenomenal amount of requests- 139 million total requests with 66 million unique applications. Finally, more than 14.8 million people managed to receive their payments in special distribution centers across the country.
Special arrangements were done to the families in the 219 villages along the Line of Control. Prime Minister Imran Khan declared special Emergency Cash packages and Kafaalat support to every family in these strategically important border regions.
Ehsaas Emergency Cash program employed advanced eligibility criteria to select eligible families. The system was based on the National Socio-economic Registry of Pakistan and used profiling of wealth using big data analytics.
Determination of eligibility was based on various criteria such as travel history, tax payment history, history of utility billing, asset ownership and whether one was employed by the government. This holistic solution was used to differentiate between the vulnerable groups that already existed and new families who were affected.
The system was to be fully data-driven, automatic, rule-based, transparent, and politically neutral. The application needed unique national identification numbers so that no family could get the assistance more than once.
There were two main channels through which applications to Ehsaas Emergency Cash were received: the 8171 SMS short code service and the special web portal. This two-pronged strategy made it accessible to the mobile phone users, as well as those with internet access.
The system enabled the applicants to make requests via their mobile phones through SMS, and the application process became possible even in remote locations with low access to the internet. The web portal offered another option to the individuals who were comfortable with the online applications.
To process all applications, there was a requirement of valid national identification numbers. The automated system would then cross-check the information of the applicants with the National Socio-economic Registry and other wealth proxy databases to establish eligibility.
The effects of Ehsaas Emergency Cash are much more than the direct financial support. The program proved that it was possible to use Pakistan to quickly implement large scale digital social protection systems in times of crisis.
Pakistan has developed a digital social protection model that can be adapted by other nations by integrating phones, internet connectivity, national IDs, and commercial payment systems. This new strategy has attracted global interest and commendations among the development agencies across the world.
The success of the program has taught other nations with different systems of personal identification. It demonstrates that transparent, politically neutral and fast social protection can be provided on a large scale when there is the correct digital infrastructure.
To support those beneficiaries who need help regarding the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program, special services were created. These were call centers and helplines that were specifically aimed to answer the common questions and concerns.
The country had payment sites that were manned by trained staff to assist the beneficiaries in the collection process. The biometric verification system provided the security of transactions and the dignity of the recipients.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr. Sania Nishtar and other government officials frequently visited the distribution centers to monitor them and to get a chance to meet the beneficiaries, so that the system was functioning on the ground.
What is the amount of help given to each family?
All the eligible families are given one time emergency cash assistance of Rs. 12,000.
Do families have a chance to apply more than once?
No, the system has unique national identification numbers so that every family is assisted only once.
What will occur when one is wrongly labeled as ineligible?
The program has an appeal system and frequent updates of data to deal with the issue of eligibility.
Does it have special provisions with regard to border areas?
Yes, there are special support packages to families in the 219 villages along the Line of Control.
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash is a turning point in the Pakistani social protection policy. Its effectiveness shows how technology-based solutions can be used to solve large-scale humanitarian issues within a short period in a transparent manner.
The legacy of the program is not limited by direct financial support. It has developed digital payment infrastructure and data systems that can be launched in case of a future emergency. The lessons learnt in handling such a huge project are invaluable in increasing the scope of social protection.
The experience of Ehsaas Emergency Cash will also have a significant impact on the future policy of Pakistan as it keeps building its social safety net. The program has demonstrated that when properly planned, with the use of technology and political will, it is possible to reach millions of vulnerable families in a very efficient and transparent manner.
In case one needs more information regarding the current social protection programs or changes to the emergency assistance programs, the most effective way to receive the correct and up-to-date information about the support services available is to keep in touch with the official sources of Ehsaas information.
