Call for urgent Baitul Mal reforms

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety has directed Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) to urgently revise its child labour stipend structure, accelerate the operationalisation of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) centres and address critical service delivery gaps, as part of a wide-ranging review of welfare initiatives.

The committee meeting, held at the PBM headquarters was presided over by Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur.

The meeting assessed the implementation status of previous directives and expressed dissatisfaction over prolonged delays, especially the failure to operationalise BISP centres in Malam Bot Tehsil and other marginalized regions near the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The BISP officials informed the committee that their governing board has remained defunct since February 2025, stalling the establishment of new centers in 180 tehsils nationwide. The secretary of the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division added that key approvals have been pending at the Prime Minister's Office since March 2025, further hampering progress.

Responding to inquiries regarding internal promotions, PBM representatives clarified that such processes have been suspended under the federal government's ongoing rightsizing policy.

The committee received a comprehensive briefing on PBM's extensive welfare mandate, encompassing healthcare, education, women empowerment, child welfare, elder care, and disability support. It was noted that financial aid eligibility remains strictly limited to individuals earning below the minimum wage threshold of Rs37,000 per month, excluding all public-sector employees.