ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a pilot initiative to deliver emergency cash support to families in flood-prone areas. The project integrates the National Catastrophe (NatCat) Model with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), enabling real-time financial assistance during natural disasters.
This initiative is part of a broader plan to build a shock-responsive social protection system that reacts swiftly to emergencies like floods.
Real-Time Emergency Cash Support via NatCat-BISP Integration
Under the proposed mechanism, NatCat’s functionalities will align with BISP’s payment system. This will allow instant cash transfers to vulnerable households when calamities strike.
The pilot will begin in selected flood-prone districts. Lessons from the rollout will guide the design of a nationwide expansion.
A shock response matrix will define stakeholder roles, intervention timelines, and resource allocation. A real-time dashboard will also be developed. This will let Parliament track disbursements and ensure transparency in emergency support.
Scientific Disaster Risk Financing and Institutional Coordination
The NatCat model was developed in 2024 by the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), in partnership with SUPARCO and with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It offers scientific insights for disaster risk management, climate adaptation, and risk financing.
Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of BISP, emphasized the need for institutional preparedness. She said Pakistan has strong institutions, but recent floods exposed gaps in coordination and planning.
“I recommend forming a technical group that includes BISP, NDMA, PDMAs, the Ministry of Climate Change, and the Meteorological Department,” she said. “This group should operate at federal, provincial, and regional levels, covering Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the merged districts.”
She added that international experience shows disaster response improves with pre-arranged financing and coordinated setups. Integrating NatCat with BISP will help Pakistan build such a system tailored to its vulnerabilities.
Financial Outreach and Inclusive Emergency Support Strategy
During the first nine months of FY2024-25, BISP disbursed Rs385.6 billion to 9.87 million households. This demonstrates its strong operational capacity to deliver large-scale emergency cash support.
Meanwhile, the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) expenditures reached Rs4.25 trillion—equivalent to 3.43% of GDP—during the July–March FY25 period. These funds supported social protection, health, education, welfare, and law and order.
This reflects the state’s commitment to inclusive development and disaster resilience. The pilot for emergency cash support builds on this foundation, aiming to protect vulnerable families when emergencies strike.
