ECC releases Rs 75bn under PM's relief package for payments to labourers.

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved release of Rs 75 billion from PM's Relief Package of Rs 200 billion for targeted payments to the low-income groups, especially labourers and daily wagers most severely affected by the lockdown situation in the country.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ECC held at the Cabinet Block today with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Hafeez Shaikh in the chair.

Under the decision, disbursement of Rs 12,000/- per selected person would be made using the Ehsaas disbursement mechanisms under a programme called "Mazdoor Ka Ehsaas Programme". For this purpose, a fourth category in addition to already existing three categories in "Ehsaas Kifalat", would be created and standard filters/checks of Ehsaas Program would be applied for identification of the beneficiaries.

Earlier, the ECC was told that after the usual filters and checks, up to 6 million low-income people were expected to benefit under the planned 4th category in addition to the 12 million labour 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 labour/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, carenters, domestic help, drivers, etc.

The ECC also asked the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Poverty Alleviation and Social Sector Development Division (PASSD) to jointly work out comprehensive mechanism and modalities to ensure a transparent and efficient disbursement of the support to the deserving people.

During the meeting, the ECC on two separate proposals approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs 606 million for 19 projects to be implemented by the Government of Balochistan for FY 2019-20 and another technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs 7 million for purchase of spare parts for helicopter maintenance by Frontier Corps Balochistan (North).

The ECC also approved release as government loan of Rs 1.30 billion in the current financial...