Financial assistance: Countrywide survey launched

The federal government has launched a countrywide data survey regarding the distribution of financial assistance to the deserving public in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan's initiative to launch Economic Package for the less privileged masses in the backdrop of spread of coronavirus across the country.
Corresponding to this development, the district administrations throughout the country have been directed to launch data surveys to determine the exact number of those who need financial assistance under the Economic Package, Business Recorder has learnt.
Speaking to Business Recorder, Deputy Commissioner Gujrat Dr Khurram Shehzad said the district administration in Gujrat and in other districts of Punjab, are engaged in the compilation of data related to the downtrodden segments of the society including labourers, rickshaws and van drivers, slum dwellers, roadside vendors and other poor people. "This survey would be completed in the next couple of days, hopefully. Thereafter, these people would be registered in the government's database and ATM (Automated Teller Machine) cards would be issued to them for financial assistance. The designated points would be set up for this purpose-to ensure the cash payments to the deserving population through ATMs at the designated points," he said adding that the data regarding the deserving population would be made available online.
"NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) will have a central role in this process to ensure transparency," the DC Gujrat said. He appealed to the privileged personalities to come forward in aid of the poor people. DC Upper Chitral Shah Saud told Business Recorder that the district administrations in Chitral and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also engaged in the compilation of data regarding the deserving public that need relief assistance. "In collaboration with the social sector, we are carrying out this exercise," he said.
Planning Minister Asad Umar told media on Tuesday that the federal government would provide financial assistance to 120,000,00 families from across Pakistan under the Economic Package. He said each family would be paid Rs 12000. "Previously, we decided to pay each family Rs 3,000 for four months but then we decided that paying Rs 12,000 at once, to each family, would be a more convenient option," he said.
The government sources said, apart from the financial assistance, the provision of relief items in the hospitals, health centres, Basic Health Units (BHUs) as well as in the areas affected by coronavirus is carried out through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Prime Minister has tasked the NDMA to spearhead the drive regarding distribution of relief goods to the public.
The NDMA, in coordination with the district governments concerned and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, is providing the relief supplies, senior government officials told Business Recorder. The relief supplies include sanitizers, face masks, sanitizing sprays, hand washing soaps, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits and related items used as preventive measures against coronavirus, officials said.
Last week, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal told the media that Pakistan would soon receive a plane from China carrying around 20 tonnes of medical supplies against coronavirus including 20 ventilators and infrared walkthrough gates.