SAPM, Sania Nishtar (top right) addressing the World Bank Group's Human Capital Ministerial Conclave

Washington, 21 October 2021 (TDI): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Dr. Sania Nishtar participated in the World Bank Group’s Human Capital Ministerial Conclave. This meeting is classified in the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings.

In the meeting, Dr. Sania Nishtar Highlighted the use of data and technology within Pakistan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme Initiative. Pakistan employed the means of data and digital technology in the programme during the time when the covid-19 Pandemic surged. Digitalization of the EEC demonstrated that the cash transfer programme can resist socio-economic fallouts during times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Digitalising the EEC program helped the Government of Pakistan to deliver cash to 15 million families during the deadly pandemic.

According to the World Bank, Pakistan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash successfully catered to a large number of people. World Bank Ranked Pakistan 4th globally in terms of covering people. Significantly, it ranked Pakistan as 3rd globally in terms of the percentage of the population covered. Pakistan’s experience and Progress in the EEC programme made Dr. Sania urged the world to invest more in data and technology. Investing in it predicts improved delivery of human capital services.

The aim of the conclave in these annual meetings is to devise a strategy for the states to attain maximum in this digital age. Focus is also extended on making smart investment choices and upgrading innovation for services around the technology. Smart choices in Investment and Innovation would assist countries in protecting, building, and utilizing human capital far more effectively.