Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Dr. Sania Nishtar; told the media about the plan of SMS service launched on Thursday.
Speaking in a Radio Pakistan’s Program, she said this program has been launched for the deserving families. Especially the daily wagers facing financial problems due to coronavirus.
She acclaimed that they have started receiving millions of SMS on 8171 for the 12,000 cash grant under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program.
The special assistant said the deserving families will be able to draw the cash grant from next week. She said transparency has been ensured in the program by using the technology-based system.
Source: Daily Times
Sania said we are ensuring there is no disruption in the transportation of goods. This is to ensure the availability of essential commodities to the people.
Furthermore, she said the decision to extend the partial lockdown till the 14th of this month has been taken to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
وزیراعظم عمران خان نے کرونا وائرس کے پیش نظراحساس ایمرجنسی کیش پروگرام کا افتتاح کردیا جو پاکستان کی تاریخ کا سب سے بڑا سماجی تحفظ کا اقدام ہے. اس پروگرام سے 12 ملین خاندان (72ملین افراد ) مستفید ہوں گے.12 ہزارروپے فی خاندان دئیے جائیں گے. pic.twitter.com/b9NOcmzaiG
— Ehsaas (@Ehsaas_Pk) April 2, 2020
SMS service, a wise step or not?
In light of current events, people have been arguing on social media that how a person with no cash, job, and smartphone will be able to get benefit from this program?
Although, while many complain that the information about the SMS service program in public is insufficient.
Moreover, we should appreciate the efforts of the Sindh Government for establishing the largest Coronavirus care center in one day.
The @Ehsaas_Pk program should dedicate few people for social media to guide the public. Lots of confusion and no one answering . Ehsas team should be active to answer the queries.
Plz @SaniaNishtar sahiba. Its urgent. Its must.— Rao Jee (@raoo512) April 2, 2020
Several people questioned if they have to physically visit their nearest registration office.
Dear @SaniaNishtar @Ehsaas_Pk
A lot people sending ID card numbers to 8171 getting following message
برائے مہربانی احساس ایمرجنسی پروگرام کی رجسٹریشن کے لئے اپنے متعلقہ ضلع انتظامیہ سے رابطہ کریںPlease guide in detail what to do. Surely it should not be a physical visit.
— No more. (@iba_313) April 2, 2020
They also claim that the SMS service is not fully online.
ابھی ایک بھائی کا شناختی کارڈ نمبر 8171 پر بھیجا تو یہ جواب آیا ہے
3-آپ کا شناختی کارڈ نمبر برائے مہربانی احساس ایمرجنسی پروگرام کی رجسٹریشن کے لئے اپنے متعلقہ ضلع انتظامیہ سے رابطہ کریں…
اب اسوقت کون کس سےرابطہ کرسکتاہے؟اسوقت دجسڑیشن آن لائن ہونی چاہیے.
کیا فائدہ ہوا میسج کا.— Syed Ebad Zulkaif Rizvi (@EbadRizvi) April 2, 2020
Some areas in Pakistan don’t have Ehsaas registration centers like Bannu.
Bannu me apka koi registration center hi nhi he ab kiya kare banda pic.twitter.com/zAaOXBLsQ8
— Mujeeb Khan (@mujeeb_pak1) April 2, 2020
ایک غریب آدمی جس کے موبائل میں بیلنس نہیں تھا میرے پاس آیا اور اس نے احساس پروگرام کے بارے میں مجھے آگاہ کیا۔ میں نے اس کا شناختی کارڈ نمبر بتائے گئے ایس ایم ایس نمبر 8171 پر بھیج دیا اس ایس ایم ایس کے بھیجنے کے میرے موبائل سے ڈھائی روپے کاٹ لیے گئے اور جواب جو مجھے موصول ہوا۔
— Haroon Danish (@M_HaroonDansih) April 2, 2020
There’s no doubt that the intentions of the government might be good; it should realize that the people who will be opting for this program are poor.
However, many might be able to travel at this time and spend all the extra money they have saved for food to get to their closed registration centers.
Nonetheless, there should be more details available so that the deserving families can benefit from it at the earliest.
