Govt approves Rs75bn cash assistance package for labourers affected by COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a Rs75bn emergency cash assistance package for labourers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, under which they will be provided Rs12,000 a month, reports The News. 

The ECC, in meeting at the Cabinet Division on Friday, approved the Emergency Cash Assistance (Criteria and Mechanism) package. Its announcement had been made earlier by PM Imran and had only required formal approval from the ECC.

The prime minister had on May 3 announced that funds collected through the PM’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Assistance Fund 2020 will be used to assist labourers whose livelihood has been affected due to the lockdown and its impact on the economy.

In his announcement, PM Imran had said that the funds shall be disbursed through the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme. 

The prime minister had also announced that for every rupee donated to the fund, the government shall match it by adding four rupees in the fund. 

The budget envelop of Rs75 billion released to BISP out of the Rs200 billion earmarked in the PM’s relief package for distribution among labourers in the country will be used for this purpose. The modalities of the disbursement are being worked out by the Finance Division, Poverty Alleviation Division and BISP.

Originally published in The News