Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

had increased to 1,514,202 with Rs.29.266 billion disbursed. The
second tranche of Rs.80,000/ family will be subjected to additional
safeguards by the respective Provinces/Territorial administration.
He termed the Watan Card assignment to be an ‘uphill task’ for his
organization mandated to design the programme and prepare cost-
free, transparent, national data-based disbursement for most
expeditious delivery. He documented his submissions to depose
that NADRA database covered 91% population that enabled it to
swiftly counter-check bio-metric particulars of the affectees and
their family members, leaving no room for human error or
manipulation, in line with principles of institutional accountability
and individual traceability. With respect to its own staff, it was
asserted that the NADRA pursued zero-tolerance against corrupt
practices and delinquent officials face strict penalties. The
Provinces had devised variable criteria for grants that impinged on
the complaints regarding coverage or otherwise of Watan Card
dispensation: While the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan notified
calamity affected areas under the Calamities Acts 1958, KP
pursued survey based approach. The NADRA also issued 237,615
free CNICs through special arrangements for the affectees. Specific
data was provided with instances where persons made repeated
attempts to secure Watan cards (27 in one case) but could not
succeed due to inbuilt safety features. The Commission was
assured that the hardship cases and anomalies flagged before it
during the hearing did not suggest any design deficiency and that
those will be processed for remedial steps and relief due, and
outcome will be reported, without delay. Further and specific details
about the complaints from flood affectees etc received against
departmental officials on various counts and the actions taken
against them were sought.
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