SMS service launched to take up cases of persons excluded from BISP list

Minister says around 820,000 persons removed from BISP programme in 2019

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri on Friday said that 8171 SMS service has been opened to review cases of persons excluded from the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) in the year 2019.

“It is very unfortunate that around 8,20,000 beneficiaries were removed from the BISP programme (Kafaalat) in 2019, without any verification or investigation by giving an impression that they were ineligible and affluent,”, she said during an interview.

Marri shared that many questions were raised at that time when these beneficiaries were dismissed on the basis of unjustified filters but those responsible during the previous government didn’t respond.

“I have decided after receiving a briefing from the officials that those disqualified on the basis of unjustified filters including phone bill of up to Rs1000, making of urgent passport and urgent CNIC, foreign travel etc must be given a right to appeal”, the minister said.

“It is beyond comprehension how a person can be declared ineligible if he travels abroad for performing Umrah through some lucky draw and made CNIC in urgency to apply for the BISP,” she said.

“All such filters are not satisfactory and cannot determine the financial condition of the person. This decision of expelling BISP beneficiaries was taken without verification, investigation or giving them right to register complaint which is injustice”, she said.

“We have inserted an appeal mechanism in the programme and opened the 8171 SMS service to review the cases of the disqualified beneficiaries and give them the right to lodge an appeal,” she said.

Responding to a question about the expansion of the Benazir Kafaalat programme, she stated that the outreach of the programme would be expanded to eight million families from seven million till June and then 10 million afterwards.

“Unfortunately, the increased ratio of poverty, inflation and unemployment in the country has led to economic instability during the last few years which requires expansion of BISP to provide financial relief to the poor masses”, the PPP leader expressed.

Shazia Marriremarked that the BISP is associated with the name of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, as it was her vision to support poor families by introducing a social protection intervention in the country, adding that the foundation of BISP, which was launched in the year 2008 and legalised in 2010, was strong enough that no one could change it.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2022.