Humqadam Program

Unconditional cash transfer programs usually bring immediate impact to address the financial needs of the beneficiaries but in the longer term, these help in uplifting people out of extreme poverty. Effectiveness of cash transfer programs is largely dependent on their implementation, coverage, target population and budget allocation. Unconditional cash transfers are always appropriate in case of chronic poverty, disease, transitory shocks, emergencies with in adequate food supply etc. From supply-side, they are cost-effective as it is cheaper to deliver cash to the targeted beneficiaries and from demand side, they provide freedom of choice to spend the cash they receive wherever they want as per their priorities. 

Persons with Disabilities(PWDs) are often dependent on others for meeting their needs-economically as well as for physical support. However, in Pakistan and Punjab, there is little support available for PWDs through the public sector. The available support is mostly limited to one-time or annual support. Therefore, there is a gap in case of the PWDs coverage and their regular financial assistance.

Humqadam is an unconditional cash transfer program for the poor PWDs in Punjab. The PWDs are paid a monthly cash assistance of Rs. 2,000 per month through branchless banking channel of Payment Service Provider(PSP). Every year number of beneficiaries in this program  increase or decreased depending on life verification of the beneficiaries and new registrations. The basic goal of Humqadam Program is to improve socio-economic wellbeing of the PWDs of the Punjab. Social assistance is one of the key objectives of social protection and through this Program, PWDs will be provided cash assistance to maintain minimum level of living standard. Eligible Citizens of all district of Punjab province are entitled for this program.

Project Objectives:
  1. To improve the social inclusion of the PWDs in Punjab
  2. To improve the subsistence of PWDs
  3. To reduce the dependency of PWDs on their social network
Eligibility Criteria
  1. Proxy Means Test (PMT) score should be 30 or less as available in National Socio-economic registry (NSER) as calculated by Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
  2. A person should be in possession of special CNIC/B-form issued by NADRA.

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