Ehsaas program though widely appreciated has also come under persistent criticism since its launch

Ehsaas: A step towards “Welfare State” in true spirit!

Ehsaas program though widely appreciated has also come under persistent criticism since its launch on March 27, 2019. All Opposition political parties have criticized the initiative on different pretext, specially, Pakistan People Party (PPP) has alleged Premier Khan of political victimization. PPP has criticized the program saying that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)’s government has merely change the title of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and converted it to Ehsaas program.

However, the criticism campaign intensified over social media against the program, when a senior journalist associated with a mainstream media group in a tweet called Ehsaas program as the worst fraud of Pakistan’s history. The journalist shared certain screenshots from one of the Ehsaas subsidiary, Ehsaas Emergency Cash program online portal stating that only 18 families of South Waziristan tribal district have been enrolled as compared to 92,000 families from Swat, the district of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, establishing that the Ehsaas program is politically influenced. To this Doctor Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation, Social Safety and chairperson BISP replied that there were three categories under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program: Category 1 and 2 are being paid as per the BISP survey 2010. Due to poor law and order situation in North and South Waziristan, it was not possible to conduct the survey at that time. However, under category 3 of the Ehsaas Emergency Cash program, both South and North Waziristan have been allocated their shares on the basis of population. According to her, so far 61,164 people from North Waziristan and 62,499 from South Waziristan have been registered via SMS. The deserving families of these areas would start getting the financial support after the process of identification and confirmation is completed by NADRA.

Every mega project has room for improvement and the procedure is further refined after constant evaluation and feedback. Ehsaas is the biggest social welfare program in the history of Pakistan, where 10 million families of 72 million persons would benefit from the special cash program. According to Dr Sania Nishtar in category-1, the existing 4.5 million Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries will get additional Rs 1000 per month to their monthly stipend of Rs.2000 for next four months, making the total amount Rs 12000. In category 2, another three million people whose monthly income was under Rs 20,000 will be identified by National Survey while in category-3, another 2.5 million people would be given Ehsaas Emergency Cash under districts share via SMS after their cases are verified by district administration. In this way, a total amount of Rs 150 billion would be distributed among 10 million families.

Ehsaas program is a mega project which has been launched on national level. An effort has been made to make the process easy and automated. The program will further improve with necessary adjustment and refinement. But to target a program or project due to few glitches or lack of situation understanding is short sighted and do not serve anyone purpose. Ehsaas program has been specifically launched for the masses under the poverty line, under privileged and destitute, any undue controversy may jeopardize the program essence and credibility. It would not serve the poor for sure rather add to their miseries.

According to Dr Sania Nishtar, the process of registration, selection and verification is very transparent where a special Ehsaas Emergency Cash online Portal has been created to share all information publicly.

Ehsaas program is unique of its kind, as it is exclusively designed to uplift the poor and low-income classes of the society, provide them with some financial and social assistance in order to enable them to start their own jobs or small businesses. To the well-off and privileged classes such initiatives like a monthly stipend of Rs.3000, free goats, cows, buffalos or auto-rickshaws may hold no value, but steps like these means a lot to the destitute and poor who lives under the poverty line. The mockery and sarcasm of such steps by Pakistani liberal and political elite shows a clear disconnect between them and the poor of Pakistani society. Ehsaas is a step in a right direction and a public project with no political agenda, it should be scrutinized and criticized to correct its course but should not be targeted due to personal or political reasons.

lockdown impact on Pakistan economy

Corona virus and lockdown impact on Pakistan economy

The entire word right now is in partial or complete lockdown in order to contain the spread of the virus. Economies all over the world, including Pakistan, have come to a standstill. Pakistan economy, that has just started recovering from an external crisis, saw the country go back to International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another bailout. Success in containing the virus comes at a price of slow economic activity.

As the government, private businesses, civil society, and the public at large grapple with the emerging pandemic situation across the country, an important debate has evolved in many circles regarding the degree to which the scourge of coronavirus (Covid-19) might impact the Pakistani economy.

Jobs losses are in millions, particularly for semi-skilled and daily wage earners. Around 2.4% of the annual GDP has been lost due to COVID-19, which is enough to send the country into a spiraling recession.
At present, Pakistan is facing a unique and daunting challenge regarding its economy. It has to ensure that corona spread is controlled through aggressive steps such as lockdown and social distancing. However, at that same time, economy is slowing down and suffering due to lockdown.

Economic activities are crippled and have completely erased the stock market gains. Most of the exports orders had been cancelled and losses in terms of export revenue may be in the range of $2 billion to $4 billion. The estimated collection of revenue till June 2020 is just Rs 4.4 trillion as compared to the FBR’s annual target of 5.555 trillion resulting in massive revenue shortfall. The economy may face losses of $5 billion or even more.

The total external debt of Pakistan as of March 2019 is recorded at $105 billion, which is over 40% of the total debt added in the last 10 years. Whereas rupee currency is depleting drastically against dollar. Most of our debt is from the World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank, Paris Club, etc. Pakistan predominantly is dependent on import of the finished products and petroleum resources keeping our foreign reserves under constant pressure due to high fiscal and trade deficit.

The inflation rate in Pakistan has gone up to 12.93 which is highly alarming and it is a big indicator that there is going to be more price hike but the income slab of lower middle-class people will remain static. The main reason for inflation is the shortage of supply of regular items. In the wake of these crises, Pakistan’s initial economic losses incurred in different sectors of the country’s economy have been estimated at Rs1.3 trillion, on account of drop in the GDP growth.

Corona pandemic may have further aggravated the economic challenge but the solutions still lies in the old remedy. There is a requirement of more innate reforms to fix the economy. To make a significant impact on the current account deficit, Pakistan needs to ensure an investment-friendly environment that attracts more foreign direct investment (FDI), instead of relying so heavily on foreign aid. Pakistan’s economic crisis cannot be resolved overnight. Broadening tax base, encouraging innovation and modernization in export-led industries are some of the most urgent measures, the government can take to address the growing fiscal and current account deficit.

segment of sweepers, janitors, domestic workers and cleaning crews who are also active in this pandemic situation and plays a very significant role in ensuring hygiene environment

Marginalized Sanitation Workers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus pandemic has lead Pakistan to a mix of partial and complete lockdown. Over 13,328 positive cases have been confirmed as of late April with 292 conform coronavirus deaths. The government of Pakistan has further extended countrywide lockdown to May 9, 2020.

Even though, most of us are advised to stay at home and maintain social distancing due to corona pandemic, some departments such as country’s medical care professionals are on the frontline against the outbreak. Amid those at the greatest risk of COVID-19 are a very ignored segment of sweepers, janitors, domestic workers and cleaning crews who are also active in this pandemic situation and plays a very significant role in ensuring hygiene environment.

In current pandemic situation, cleaning staff generally is at more risk as they have to take care of deep cleaning, sanitizing, scrubbing the areas that are a potential source of dangerous viruses and germs. Many of the sweepers work at hospitals with corona virus patients which put them at additional risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. Moreover, most of the workers are without any protective equipment despite at more risk to the virus. The hiring institutes mostly keep them at low priority and fails to provide any protective equipment.

Approximately 80% to 90 % of sanitation staff in Pakistan are mainly Christians, comprising the nation’s janitors, street sweepers, and street workers. The higher percentage of Christian sanitary workers is an indication of their poor economic conditions as Christians in Pakistan denote less than 2% of the total population.

The salaries paid to the workers are generally insufficient and do not even cover their basic needs. In such low income, the workers can not afford to buy safety equipment and choose to work without it if not provided by the department or institutes.

When a female sweeper was asked about it, she said “I get paid Rs,15, 000 per month and work for 12 hours a day, our salaries are not even paid regularly and depends on the officer’s temperament. At times, he pays the salary after two months, or it gets extended to three months or more. If any of us ask for safety equipment, the officer blames it on the government and does not take responsibility for it.”

Keeping in view the higher risk, there is a need to provide proper training and personal protective equipment to these workers. If the situations remains the same, there is a fear of rapid rise in corona affected patients in janitors and sweepers leaving government efforts useless.

“In the hospital, we are not provided with protective equipment,” a sweeper from a government hospital in Peshawar told. “The management does not treat us as humans, or we are not considered equal to other professionals at the hospital.” He further added, “We are also terrified of coronavirus, but our jobs are also essential to feed our family.”

In this time of crisis and uncertainty, it is of paramount importance to grow beyond our biasis and provide the best facilities to all those who are at the fore front of this war. More than ever, the safety, rights and health of cleaning workforce must be taken into account. If ignored, the poor workers and their communities are extreme vulnerable to COVID-19.

ہمارے معاشرے میں ایسے افراد کی کوئی کمی نہیں ہے جو کہ اپنے فرائض نہ صرف ایمانداری سے نبھاتے ہیں بل

روشن مثالیں

یہ بات بہت حوصلہ افزا ءاور خوش آئند ہے کہ ہمارے معاشرے میں ایسے افراد کی کوئی کمی نہیں ہے جو کہ اپنے فرائض نہ صرف ایمانداری سے نبھاتے ہیں بلکہ معاشرے کی تشکیل اور بہتری کے لیے غیر معمولی خدمات بھی سرانجام دے رہے ہیں حالیہ کرونا بحران کے دوران بھی متعدد ادارے، افراد اور گروہ ایسے سامنے آئے جنہوں نے عوام کی بہتری کیلئے اپنے فرائض سرانجام دینے کے علاوہ اپنی ہمت، جذبہِ خدمت اور کچھ خاص کرنے کی نئی مثالیں قائم کیں اور معاشرے کے حساس اور ذمہ دار لوگوں نے ان کے کام کو سراہا ۔ کمال کی بات یہ ہے کہ ان میں بعض باہمت خواتین بھی شامل ہے۔
پشاور کی اسسٹنٹ کمشنر محترمہ سارا رحمن نے کرونا بحران کے دوران مرد افسران کے برعکس اپنے فرائض کی بجاآوری میں نہ صرف یہ کہ دن رات ایک کئے اور ٹیم سے اپنی قیادت میں بہتر کام لیا بلکہ انہوں نے لاک ڈاؤن کو ممکن بنانے کے لیے بہترین حکمت عملی بھی ترتیب دی اور بعض بااثر افراد اور تاجروں کے دباؤ اور اثر رسوخ کو خاطر میں نہ لاتے ہوئے قدم قدم پر جرأت اور ہمت کا مظاہرہ کرکے عملا ًیہ ثابت کر دکھایا کہ خواتین بحرانی کیفیت میں بھی نتائج کی پرواہ کیے بغیر غیرمعمولی نتائج دے سکتی ہیں۔ انہوں نے اس تمام عرصہ کے دوران جہاں ایک طرف متعلقہ سرکاری اداروں کی زبردست نگرانی کو ممکن بنایا بلکہ روزانہ کی بنیاد پر بازاروں میں خود نکل کر عوام اور تاجروں کو نہ صرف سمجھاتی رہی بلکہ جہاں کہیں کسی نے ان کو دباؤ میں ڈالا، انہوں نے پرواہ کئے بغیر ان کا قبلہ بھی درست کیا۔ اس سے قبل وہ ناجائز تجاوزات کے خاتمے میں بھی بہترین کارکردگی کا مظاہرہ کرتی پائی گئی اور قانون شکن افراد کے لیے خوف کی علامت بنی رہی۔ اس بحران کے دوران مختلف اہم عہدوں پر فرائض سرانجام دینے والی عورت قرت العین وزیر المعروف مس وزیر بھی بہت متحرک اور فعال رہی۔ وزیرستان سے تعلق رکھنے والی اس بہادر خاتون نے اس سے قبل جہاں پشاور میں تجاوزات کے خاتمے اور پورے ملک کی سطح پر اضافی چارج کے ذریعے ریلوے سے تجاوزات ختم کرنے کے مشکل کام میں بڑا نام کمایا۔ وہاں انہوں نے حالیہ کرونا بحران کے دوران سارا رحمن کی طرح نوشہرہ جیسے اہم شہر میں لاک ڈاؤن کو یقینی بنانے کے لئے میدان میں خود نکل کر فرائض سرانجام دیے۔ وہ پولیس اہلکاروں کے ہمراہ سڑکوں پر خود نکل کر گاڑیوں اور بازاروں کی چیکنگ کرتی رہی اور بہترین نتائج دیتی رہی۔
اس تمام بحران اور فرائض کی کامیاب بجاآوری میں تخت بھائی (مردان) کی اسسٹنٹ کمشنر انیلہ فہیم بھی بہت نمایاں رہی، جنہوں نے سارا رحمان اور مِس وزیر کی طرح خواتین اور جاگیرداروں کے بیچ رہ کر میدان میں اپنی ٹیم کی قیادت کی بلکہ تمام تر دباؤ کے باوجود بذات خود ان لوگوں کے ساتھ انتہائی سختی کے ساتھ پیش آتی رہی جو کہ حکومتی ہدایات اور احکامات کو نظر انداز کرکے من مانی کر رہے تھے۔ انہوں نے کئی دکانوں اور شاپنگ مالز کو خود سیل کیا اور جو سرکاری اہلکار غفلت کے مرتکب پائے گئے ان کا محاسبہ بھی ممکن بنایا ۔ ان تین خواتین نے اس عرصے کے دوران لاتعداد قانون شکن افراد کے خلاف دباؤ اور نتائج کی پرواہ کیے بغیر سخت کارروائیاں کیں اور مرد افسران کے لئے مثال قائم کی۔ ان کی طرح بعض دیگر شعبوں کے مختلف افراد میں بھی ذاتی حیثیت سے عوامی خدمت کا بٹیرہ اٹھایا اور لوگوں کی رہنمائی کرتے رہے۔ مثال کے طور پر کرکٹر شاہد خان آفریدی ایک مہینے سے اپنی ٹیم کے ہمراہ خیبرپختونخوا کے دورے پر ہیں جہاں وہ ضرورت مند افراد کی مدد کر رہے ہیں اور ان کی ترجیح اُن علاقوں یا شہریوں پر ہے جن کو سرپرستی کی اشد ضرورت ہے۔ دبئی کی ایک پیٹرولیم کمپنی نے جہاں خیبرپختونخوا کے نادار اور معاشی طور پر کمزور فنکاروں اور ہنرمندوں کے لیے نقد امداد کے علاوہ سینکڑوں کی تعداد میں فوڈ پیکجز کا اہتمام کیا اور عام ضرورت مندوں کو اپنی ٹیم کے ذریعے امداد پہنچائی، وہاں اس کی مینجمنٹ نے یہ ہدایت بھی کی کہ امداد دیتے وقت امداد لینے والوں کی کوئی تصویر کشی نہ کی جائے تاکہ ان کی عزت نفس مجروح نہ ہو۔ اس گروپ نے افغانستان میں بھی یہی طریقہ اپنایا ۔ الخدمت فاؤنڈیشن کی تو مثال ہی نہیں ملتی اس سلسلے میں نئی نسل کے پڑھے لکھے نوجوان بھی کسی سے پیچھے نہیں رہے۔ مثال کے طور پر سوات کے علاقے خوازہ خیلہ میں ایک درجن کے قریب نوجوان اور تعلیم یافتہ اساتذہ نے دی ہاؤس آف وِزڈم کے نام سے ایک پلیٹ فارم قائم کیا جہاں وہ روزانہ کی بنیاد پر اکٹھے ہوکر دس سے زائد مضامین انٹرنیٹ کے متعلقہ فورمزسے ہزاروں اُن سٹوڈنٹس کو آن لائن اور ریکارڈ شدہ شکل میں پڑھا رہے ہیں جو کہ تعلیمی اداروں کی غیر معینہ بندش کے باعث پڑھائی اور کلاسز کی سہولت سے محروم ہیں۔ یہ نوجوان لڑکے کسی سرکاری یا سیاسی سرپرستی کے بغیر اپنی مدد آپ کے تحت نہ صرف انٹرنیٹ کی دستیاب سہولتوں کا بہترین استعمال کرکے ہزاروں اسٹوڈنٹس کو پڑھا رہے ہیں بلکہ کرونا وائرس سے بچنے کی آگاہی مہم بھی چلا رہے ہیں ۔ سچی بات تو یہ ہے کہاللہ تعالیٰ نے اس سرزمین کو بہترین صلاحیتوں اور خزانوں سے نوازا ہے ضرورت محض اس بات کی ہے کہ ایسے افراد کی عزت افزائی اور سرپرستی کی جائے۔