National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Tuesday claimed that it has so far issued 9,14,558 Pakistan Cards to heads of rain affected families in Sindh to provide them cash assistance. According to the Authority, through Pakistan Card, head of an affected family can get cash assistance of Rs 20,000 in two equal instalments.
It said 47 distribution centres are operational in districts of Sindh, I e Badin, Tando Muhammad Khan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar and Sanghar and are facilitating the affected families.
Whereas other 15 centres, on completing task, are now addressing the complaints from genuine beneficiaries. Throughout the distribution process, the authority has ensured strong checks in the software so that only deserving families belonging to provincially notified calamity-hit areas could obtain Pakistan Cards. The Authority had also launched mobile SMS service in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and all operating telecom companies to determine a person's existence in the beneficiary list for Pakistan Card project to facilitate the rain-affected people in checking the status of their requests.
The eligibility of the applicant for Pakistan Card can be checked by simply sending his/her Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number to the designated short code, ie 9777. In response, a text message is sent from Nadra central server confirming CNIC existence in the beneficiary list. The intent to use this service is to assist provincial and local governments to curtail down rush at the Centres and to help the flood victims by using technology. In addition to setting up Centres, Nadra has also mobilised its Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) to process CNIC free of cost in all affected areas in co-ordination with the public representatives and district administrators.