Life in Pakistan can be tough, especially for the millions living hand-to-mouth. When a big crisis hits, like the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, it pushes already struggling families to the absolute brink. Imagine daily wage earners suddenly having no work, small shopkeepers forced to shut down, and families worrying about their next meal.
This was the harsh reality Pakistan faced in early 2020. Seeing this immense suffering, the Government of Pakistan launched a massive rescue effort – the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program. This program wasn’t just about money; it became a vital lifeline, offering hope and survival to the country’s poorest citizens when they needed it most.
Why Was the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program Needed?
The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t just a health disaster; it triggered a massive economic earthquake. Lockdowns, essential to slow the virus, meant countless people lost their incomes overnight.
Rickshaw drivers, construction workers, street vendors, domestic helpers – entire segments of the informal economy, which employs most of Pakistan’s labour force, were paralyzed. Hunger and desperation became immediate threats, potentially more deadly than the virus itself for the poorest families.
The government recognized this looming catastrophe. The existing Ehsaas framework, already focused on poverty alleviation and social safety nets under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, was rapidly scaled up. The goal was crystal clear: get immediate, direct cash assistance to the most vulnerable households across Pakistan to prevent starvation and extreme hardship. This urgency birthed the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program.
How the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program Worked: Reaching Millions Fast
The sheer scale was unprecedented. The program aimed to distribute Rs. 12,000 (roughly $75 at the time) to over 12 million families – potentially touching nearly 50 million individuals. Achieving this quickly and fairly was a monumental task. Here’s how the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program tackled it:
- Identifying Beneficiaries: The program primarily relied on the existing National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) database, a massive survey listing households and their poverty scores. Families already registered in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) or identified as low-income through NSER were automatically considered. Crucially, a new SMS-based registration service (8171) was launched. People could text their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number to check their eligibility or register if they weren’t in the database but felt they qualified due to sudden income loss.
- Verification: To prevent fraud and ensure help reached the right people, multiple checks were used. Cross-referencing with the NSER database, checking against government employee lists, and verifying mobile numbers linked to CNICs were key steps. Biometric verification at payment points was also essential.
- Transparent Payments: Transparency was vital for public trust. The government partnered with designated banks (Habib Bank Limited and Bank Alfalah) and specialized payment providers (like Easy Paisa and JazzCash) to distribute the cash. Approved beneficiaries received SMS notifications informing them of their eligibility and the nearest payment point. They had to present their original CNIC and undergo biometric verification to collect the cash.
- Phased Rollout: The program rolled out in phases to manage crowds and ensure safety during the pandemic. Specific days were assigned based on CNIC numbers or family names (e.g., days for surnames starting A-F, etc.). Separate queues and dedicated times were often arranged for women and the elderly.
The speed of implementation was remarkable. Within weeks, millions started receiving assistance, demonstrating the program’s commitment to urgent relief.
Who Qualified for the Ehsaas Emergency Cash?
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program targeted families most likely to be pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic shock. Key eligibility criteria included:
- Existing beneficiaries of BISP.
- Families identified as low-income through the NSER survey.
- Daily wage workers who lost their livelihoods due to lockdowns.
- Temporary workers, piece-rate workers, and self-employed individuals in the informal sector facing income collapse.
- Families with no stable income source or significant savings.
- People with disabilities or chronic illnesses in vulnerable households.
- Widows and orphans already receiving social support.
The program explicitly excluded government employees, pensioners drawing a significant income, taxpayers, and owners of substantial assets like large vehicles or property.
The Impact: More Than Just Money
The Rs. 12,000 payment might seem modest, but for families staring at empty pots and hungry children, it was transformative. The impact of the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program was profound:
- Preventing Hunger: The most immediate impact. Cash allowed families to buy essential food items like flour, rice, lentils, cooking oil, and sugar, preventing malnutrition and starvation.
- Maintaining Basic Needs: Families could pay for essential utilities like electricity or gas for cooking, preventing disconnection.
- Reducing Distress Sales: People didn’t have to sell off vital assets like livestock or jewellery at throwaway prices just to survive.
- Preserving Dignity: Direct cash transfers allowed families to make their own choices about their most pressing needs, preserving their dignity.
- Stimulating Local Economies: The injection of cash into local markets, especially in poorer areas, provided a small but vital boost to small shopkeepers and local businesses.
- Building Trust: The relatively transparent and swift delivery helped build public trust in the government’s ability to respond to crises.
Stories emerged nationwide: the rickshaw driver able to buy groceries for his family for a month, the widow securing medicine for her sick child, the daily labourer avoiding eviction – the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program touched lives directly.
Challenges Along the Way
No program of this scale is without hurdles. The Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program faced significant challenges:
- Massive Demand & Crowds: Initial payment points saw huge, sometimes chaotic, crowds, raising concerns about social distancing and COVID-19 spread. Managing these queues safely was a constant struggle.
- Biometric Verification Issues: Glitches with fingerprint readers, worn-out fingerprints (common among labourers), or unregistered biometrics caused delays and frustration for some eligible recipients.
- Inclusion/Exclusion Errors: Despite the NSER database and verification, some genuinely needy people were missed (exclusion errors), while a few ineligible individuals might have slipped through (inclusion errors). The SMS registration helped but wasn’t foolproof.
- Misinformation & Scams: Rumours spread about eligibility and payment processes. Unscrupulous individuals also tried to scam people by asking for money or CNIC copies to “facilitate” payments.
- Connectivity & Access: Reaching people in remote, mountainous, or conflict-affected areas with limited mobile network or banking infrastructure remained difficult.
The Ehsaas team worked continuously to address these issues – adding more payment points, extending hours, refining verification processes, and running public awareness campaigns to combat misinformation.
Beyond the Emergency: The Legacy of Ehsaas
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program was a specific response to an unprecedented crisis. However, its success demonstrated the power and efficiency of Pakistan’s evolving digital social protection system. It proved that large-scale, targeted cash transfers are possible even under extreme pressure.
The lessons learned and the infrastructure built – the NSER database, the 8171 SMS service, the partnerships with payment providers – became the foundation for expanding Pakistan’s permanent social safety net under the broader Ehsaas umbrella.
Programs like Kafaalat (regular stipends for women), Taleemi Wazaif (education stipends), and Nashonuma (nutrition support) now leverage this system to provide more sustained support to vulnerable families.
Conclusion: A Crucial Step in Compassion
The COVID-19 pandemic tested nations globally. Pakistan’s response, anchored by the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program, showed a significant commitment to shielding its poorest from the worst impacts of the crisis. It was a massive logistical undertaking that provided immediate, tangible relief to millions facing desperation.
While challenges existed, the program’s core achievement stands: it delivered vital cash assistance swiftly to those who needed it most, preventing widespread hunger and destitution during an incredibly difficult time. It highlighted the importance of robust social safety nets and digital infrastructure.
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program wasn’t just an economic intervention; it was an act of national solidarity, a powerful message that even in the darkest times, the most vulnerable would not be forgotten. Its legacy continues to shape Pakistan’s ongoing journey towards a more compassionate and resilient social protection system.
