Cash cards among 0.254 mln IDPs distributed so far.

ISLAMABAD, August 10, 2009 (Balochistan Times): The cash cards issuance process to dislocated persons of Swat and Malakand Division is going on smoothly as 2,54,012 families have so far drawn grant of Rs. 25,000. As per commitment to provide cash grant to registered IDP families before or upon their return to their respective areas, the government would ensure that each of them could get the card to avail the facility, official sources said here Monday. National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has so far verified data of 3,29,792 dislocated persons, the sources said and added an amount of Rs. 5.69 billion has been drawn by dislocated families using cash cards being issued by United Bank Limited. About return of IDPs, the sources said the repatriation process is also going on well as all out efforts were made to ensure secure return to their hometowns. The sources said after completion of repatriation process, the second phase would start which is reconstruction. The government would create employment opportunities for the residents of Malakand Division so that they could live in a better and decent atmosphere, they added. Regarding procedure of issuance of cash cards, the sources said NADRA receives the data of IDP families for cleansing, verification and validation from different registration agencies. Data is then verified and sent to United Bank Limited for card printing which delivers the cards to Card Distribution Points (CDPs). NADRAs staff at the CDPs captures IDPs photograph and biometrics for verification and hands over the card to verified IDPs. The Authority, on daily basis, receives biometrics and photographic information of the IDPs from CDPs and executes the verification check to make sure that the recipient of the card is a genuine verified IDP. Verification intimation is then sent to UBL for PIN activation so that verified IDPs can use their cards. The logical model of this IDP registration exercise has been designed in a manner that the un-distributed cards can be delivered to IDPs even after repatriation to the District of Origins through NADRA respective NSRCs and UBL branches. This logical cleansing of data by NADRA not only resulted in transparent relief to eligible IDPs but also contributed in the effective planning of relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government along with its allied partners. A special cash cards distribution centre is also being set-up at Mardan to provide grant to around 45,000 IDP families living outside NWFP province.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)