ISLAMABAD: The new quota for Ehsaas Kafaalat will start disbursing to beneficiaries from next week according to the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Sania Nishtar on Wednesday.
According to the special assistant, the preparations for the disbursement of the next Ehsaas Kafaalat cash quota are well underway with partnering banks which include Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Bank Alfalah Limited.
The biometric verification systems will be initiated next week across the country to serve Kafaalat beneficiaries and enable them to receive their payments.
Furthermore, the special assistant visited the HBL branch located at Melody Market in Islamabad to review their cash withdrawal services using the ATM machine as well their ambiance for those beneficiaries who have never used any banking services.
It is pertinent to mention that the beneficiaries of the Ehsaas Kafaalat Programme are the destitute women with no source of income or livelihoods.
SAPM Dr Sania Nishtar stated:
The Ehsaas digital payment system encourages women to go to biometric ATMs and branches of banks, empowering them through financial inclusion,
I would encourage Kafaalat beneficiary women to withdraw cash through ATM machines of designated partner banks, wherever possible. It will not just protect them from corrupt financial mistreatment, but bank branches and ATMs also serve them with a receipt detailing transparent record of available cash balance in their saving accounts.
Moreover, the special assistant has also urged banks to make better use of ATMs for marginalized segments of society after receiving feedback from the field that many bank officers to avoid hassle and long queues say that ATMs are out of order.
The Ehsaas Kafaalat Programme beneficiaries have three options to receive payment with the first choice being a biometrically enabled ATM, the second choice being a biometric retail shop and the third one being a biometric enabled branch of the relevant partner bank.
It is pertinent to mention that the Prime Minister Imran Khan has given a go ahead to increase number of Kafaalat beneficiaries from 4.6 million to seven million while new ones will be added to the list after due diligence as per progamme policy.
Read more: Govt Launches Ehsaas Waseela e Taleem Digital Program.
