Government ICT-based cross sectoral collaboration strategy for financial support of low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

In the time of the COVID-19 crisis, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have gained more attention, and they are now an important instrument of governmental policies and decision-making processes. The objective of this paper is to explore the application of the Pakistani government's ICT-based cross-sectoral collaboration strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The narrative literature review and case study approaches are employed for this study. After the COVID-19 breakout, the government of Pakistan immediately took initiative and launched a financial support program for low income people known as the "Ehsaas emergency cash"program. This study examines the government's cross-sectoral collaboration strategy, which was undertaken to help and support low-income through mobile payments and also promote public-private collaboration. The government policy also helps to maintain social distance and ensures transparency in the distribution of funds under the Ehsaas emergency cash program. © 2020 ACM.