Social Protection Resource Centre

Social Protection Policy in Pakistan: An Analysis of Ehsaas Program

Social Protection Policy in Pakistan: An Analysis of Ehsaas Program

  • SESSION 1

13th January, 2021, Wednesday, 4.00pm PST

Balochistan Council for Peace & Policy (BCPP) has organized a webinar in collaboration with Social Protection Resource Centre (SPRC) & Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

Following speakers have attended the session:

  • Zubaida Jalal

Honorable Minister for Defense Production

Topic: Social Protection Targeting Inequity through Lifelong Approaches

  • Aqdas Afzal

Program Director, Social Development & Policy Program, Habib University

Topic: Creation of Jobs & Livelihood Opportunities for Social Protection

  • Arzak Khan

ICT for Development Sector from Balochistan

Topic: The Perspective of Balochistan on Ehsaas Program

  • Safdar A. Sohail

Executive Director Social Protection Resource Centre, Islamabad

Message of Dr Safdar A. Sohail

Dr. Safdar shared his point of views in the webinar and stated that Ehsaas programme is itself the least mindful of the needs of the Social Protection in Balochistan. The case of this province is a part from rest of the provinces because of the six major factors, which are very pronounced in Balochistan and such factors do not exist somewhere else. In order to cater these challenges, the provinces would need an Ehsaas plus plus. Primarily, Balochistan is the province, which suffers worst kind of market fragmentation. It is the largest province with the least market integration within the province and with the rest of the country, which creates grim challenges for the country and for Balochistan itself. Secondly, the value that a Baloch product, which is created by the people of Balochistan, is not being captured because the market integration in Balochistan is minimal. The third aspect, which is unique to Balochistan, is the limit of technology in Balochistan. The fourth aspect is the factor of the livelihood pillar of Ehsaas, which would not do much to Balochistan because of the demand contraction, which is perennial in case of Balochistan. The demand is very very low so there you cannot have that kind of a stimulus workable, which can be used for the other parts of the country. Last but not the least is the work-based social security, the institutional social security that is working somewhat better in other provinces but does not work well at all in Balochistan due to very very small formal sector employment. Hence, all these factors show that Ehsaas is doing too small and is too patchy as it cannot reach majority of the people of Balochistan and thus demands a different approach of social protection system in the province. 

For further details and to watch complete webinar, click on the link below;

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA4a_j75iRI 

  • SESSION 2

16th  January 2021, Saturday, 3.00pm PST

Balochistan Council for Peace & Policy (BCPP) has organized a webinar in collaboration with Social Protection Resource Centre (SPRC) & Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

Following speakers have attended the session:

  • Severine Minot

Assistant Professor, Social Development & Policy, Habib University, Karachi

Topic: How Governance can be improved for Social Protection in Balochistan?

  • Mutee ul Rehman

Senior Specialist, Social Protection Resource Centre, Islamabad

Topic: Unmet Needs of Social Protection in Balochistan: Status & Way Forward

  • Nasir Iqbal

Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, PIDE

Topic: COVID & Social Protection

For further details and to watch complete webinar, click on the link below;

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/wBwp-KhZXHg