ISLAMABAD: The federal government has earmarked Rs 230 billion under the head of social protection, including Rs 208 billion allocated for Ehsaas Programme, showing an increase of 21 percent compared to Rs 190 billion allocated in the outgoing financial year 2019-20.

According to budget documents, a total of Rs 230,907 million have been allocated in the new federal budget against Rs 190,595 million allocated in the outgoing financial year's revised estimates of Rs 245,024 million; and Rs 208,258 million has been allocated for Ehsaas Programme compared to Rs 187,904 million allocated for Ehsaas Programme in fiscal year 2019-20 revised at Rs 242,303 million.

Rs 200 billion have been allocated for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), compared to Rs 180 billion allocated in outgoing financial year, showing an increase of 11 percent and Rs 6.1 billion have been allocated for Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.

Rs 21.76 billion have been allocated under the head of 'administration' in social protection sector and Rs 886 million under the head of 'others.'

Furthermore, in the new federal budget, Rs 2.15 billion have been allocated for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division.

In the outgoing fiscal year 2019-20, the federal government launched Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme, under the ambit of Ehsaas Programme, which the government said is the biggest cash distribution programme in the history of Pakistan, with a total allocation of Rs 144 billion to provide immediate cash relief of Rs 12,000 to 12 million families of daily wage earners, whose livelihood has been severely affected by coronavirus.

Although, in the budgetary allocations for upcoming fiscal year 2020-21, specific budget for Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has not been listed but it is understood that major chunk of Rs 208 billion specified for Ehsaas Programme would go to Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.