ECC releases Rs75 bn for Ehsaas Programme

ISLAMABAD: Amid the inability of the government to identify daily wagers because of non-existence of central database of registration, the ECC on Wednesday approved release of Rs75 billion for payment to low income groups, including labourers and daily wagers, who were mostly affected by the lockdown in the country.

The working plan was approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), tabled by Dr Sania Nishtar under the much-trumpeted “Mazdoor Ka Ehsas Programme,” with some certain exclusion, including the government employees, foreign travelers, those obtaining passports and CNICs through executive offices, would not be eligible to get relief from this package. However, the official sources said no registered data of daily wagers was available as the prime minister chaired various meetings for disbursement of funds under “Mazdoor Ka Ehsas Program”. So far, no official database had been prepared.

Secondly, the BISP’s initiative of NSER (National Socio Economic Registry) was still in progress with June 2020 deadline, while the government is facing serious challenges to identify the daily wagers and for that purpose, a questionnaire was prepared to evaluate daily wagers’ data through NSER but so far it might be available to 80 per cent of the country.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS for 2018-19) was completed and results were stipulated but waiting for endorsement of technical committee. The release of LFS for 2018-19 could give clear picture about how much workforce was being hired by informal employers.

In the last LFS for 2017-18, 27.3 million out of total 61 million employed workforce was hired by informal employers. But some officials said with better integration of data through NADRA, the last population census and ongoing NSER data could give a clear picture to the policymakers. One of the renowned labour economists Dr Lubna Shahnaz stressed upon the need of immediate registration of all informal workers into national database, so they could be provided with some form of targeted social protection.

However, according to the official announcement after the meeting, the ECC has approved release of Rs75 billion from the PM’s relief package of Rs200 billion for targeted payments to the low-income groups, especially labourers and daily wagers. The decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh. The meeting took the decision to disburse Rs12,000 per person, using the Ehsaas disbursement programme called “Mazdoor Ka Ehsaas Programme.”

Earlier, the ECC was told that after the usual filters and checks, up to six million low-income individuals were expected to be benefitted under the 4th category in addition to 12 million labourers’ population already targeted through Category 1-3 of Kifalat. “Mazdoor Ka Ehsaas Programme” was aimed at extending much-needed support in the current situation to the low-income labourers/daily wagers mostly involved in activities such as loaders, cleaning staff, contract employees, piece rate workers, self-employed, street vendors, construction workers, painters, welders, mechanics, carpenters, domestic helpers, and drivers.

The ECC also asked the Ministry of Industries and Production, and the Poverty Alleviation and Social Sector Development Division (PASSDD) to jointly work out a comprehensive mechanism and modalities to ensure a transparent and efficient disbursement to support the deserving people. During the meeting, the ECC on two separate proposals approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs606 million for 19 projects to be implemented by the Balochistan government for FY 2019-20 and another technical supplementary grant of Rs 7 million for purchase of spare parts for helicopter maintenance by the Frontier Corps Balochistan (North).

The ECC also approved and released as government loan of Rs1.30 billion in the current financial year and Rs3.85 billion per annum for next three years for settlement of outstanding liabilities of litigants in the case involving Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). On a proposal by the Ministry of Commerce, the ECC approved notification of the Export Policy Order, 2020, and Import Policy Order 2020, in consolidated form as per the Law Division’s recommendations for convenience of the business community.

The ECC also approved a proposal by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and HRD for approval of the budget proposal for the year 2019-20 and revised the budget estimate for 2018-19 of EOBI. The ECC, on a proposal by the Ministry of Climate Change, approved exemption from the re-lending policy of the government in respect of a US$188 million by the International Development Association (IDA) of World Bank for Pakistan Hydromet and Ecosystem Restoration Project. The ECC also approved a proposal of the Ministry of National Health Services for provision of Rs150 million funds as grant in aid/seed money for the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority. The ECC asked the secretary finance and secretary health to jointly work on the modalities of arrangement of funds.

On a proposal of the Ministry of Industries and Production seeking a supplementary grant of Rs288 million for payment of salaries to the employees of Pakistan Machine Tool Factory, the ECC asked the Finance Division and the Industries and Production Division to sit together and resolve the issue. The committee also considered a proposal presented by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on holding captive PNSC’s ships in South Africa on account of alleged claims of M/s Coniston against the Pakistan Steel Mills Ltd and asked the finance secretary to engage with the PNSC and PSM and seek opinion of the Law Division, if necessary, to resolve the issue having ended up in litigation.