0.5m people from Balochistan to be included in BISP

Minister says allocations for Social Safety Division hiked to Rs372b

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri on Monday said that 500,000 more people from Balochistan will be included in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which would cover 65 to 75 percent of the population.

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, she announced the establishment of more BISP Centres in the province, adding that 25 mobile units will be engaged for the execution of BISP operations.

Shazia said that the present government has increased the budgetary allocations for the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division up to Rs372.32 billion which is 43.2 percent more than the previous budget, considering the prevailing situation in the country.

She said that BISP has proved as the most successful and strong social protection intervention in the country. The amount of Rs364 billion has been allocated for the BISP while Rs6 billion will be utilised for the schemes of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, she added.

The minister said that around eight million people are getting assistance under the Benazir Kafalat and other schemes which would be increased up to nine million this year and 10 million by the next year’s budget.

She said that around three million children were getting Benazir Educational Stipends which would be increased up to five million soon while the budgetary allocations have been increased from Rs20 billion to Rs36 billion.

About the Benazir Nashonuma programme, Shazia revealed that Nashonuma Centres will be established in all districts of the country this year through the increased allocation of Rs21 billion to address the issue of malnutrition amongst the children.

On Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship programme, she said that so far 92,000 scholarships have been granted under the programme while 10,000 additional students will be included in the programme with an increased allocation this year.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2022.