ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has ranked Pakistan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash (EEC) program among the top four global social protection measures, based on the percentage of population covered, amid the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak across the country.
In its report released on Saturday, the World Bank commended the South Asian nation’s initiative to provide a one-time cash grant of Rs 12,000 ($77) to nearly 100 million low-income households.
“In Pakistan, where social insurance coverage is very low, the filters included having a public sector worker in the household, vehicle and property ownership and the amount spent on telephone bills,” the World Bank report said.
“This approach was most useful when the social registry covered a large part of the population and the information on households was up to date,” it added.
In a Twitter post on Saturday, Senator Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, who is also leading the EEC program, said: “Pakistan is 3rd globally in terms of percentage of population covered.”
https://twitter.com/SaniaNishtar/status/1393483579552829444?s=20
Sania Nishtar on Twitter
“World Bank recognizes #EhsaasEmergencyCash among top 4 social protection interventions globally in terms of number of people covered. Pakistan is 3rd globally in terms of percentage of population covered.
A relief package worth Rs 1.2 trillion was announced by Pakistan’s government in March last year, “which has been almost fully implemented,” according to the report.
The package included an accelerated procurement of wheat, financial support to utility stores, a reduction in regulated fuel prices, support for health and food supplies and relief in electricity bill payments.
