ISLAMABAD: The government has started the disbursements under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme which envisages providing Rs12,000 to twelve million families affected by the pandemic.
The funds have been distributed to 4.5 million families in the first phase, while the second phase has now commenced. More than 85 million people have registered for the programme. The registration for the program will be closed on April 19.
Several reports have emerged of mismanagement at collection centres in the federal capital particularly the collection point located in Firdous Market Sector F-6/2. The cashier, named Husnain, has been collecting biometric thumbprints and not provided the amount to the beneficiary.
An elderly man, who hails from Sindh, revealed that he received an SMS to collect the amount from the collection point. He came at the allocated time of 9AM and waited for over four hours, after which his thumbprint was collected and he was told to collect the amount tomorrow.
This raised suspicion and the man asked why the biometric verification was collected if the funds were not given. This infuriated the cashier and he was turned away. He complained to the policeman posted there who threatened him and his son, Ghulam Sarwar, of dire consequences.
The man said that his son has made a video of the ordeal, and alleged that the cashier, in connivance of local police, was collecting Rs1000 per person for the funds to be issued. Those who refused to make the payments were turned away and told to collect the amount tomorrow.
He appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to fulfill his promise of providing relief to the people. He urged the media to raise their voice as deserving people were not receiving the funds.
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