PM directs to ensure full coverage in social protection survey

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed that social protection survey should ensure hundred percent coverage of the population in coordination with local governments and local administration.

He was speaking at a briefing regarding formulation of the National Socio Economic Registry (NSER) under the “Ehsaas” program in Islamabad.

The briefing was attended by Special Assistant to PM Dr Sania Nishtar, Chairman NADRA Mr Usman Yousaf Mobin and senior officers of BISP and Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Division.

The prime minister said utmost transparency should be ensured in the survey process so that no deserving citizen of Pakistan is left out from the social welfare net and it must be achieved in the shortest possible time.

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PM Imran Khan stated that “Ehsaas” is the flagship social welfare program of the government and aligns with the objective of poverty alleviation, education, food sustenance, and health.

The prime minister emphasised that survey would have utility for other organizations as well like Utility Stores for provision of food items to the deserving citizens and other social welfare organizations.

Dr. Sania Nishtar briefed the prime minister that a number of NGOs have been contracted for data collection and verification in all provinces.

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It was further briefed that a “self-registration” drive will also be initiated so that no deserving person is left out from the “Ehsaas” program.

The initial survey conducted by BISP was in 2011 to identify deserving persons for socio-economic sustenance. This survey had a number of shortcomings, and thus a fresh survey was commissioned which will be completed by 2020 with the help of NADRA.