Setting things right: BISP survey to be conducted across country: Marvi

PML-N leader says wishes of G-B govt will be taken into account

GILGIT: The federal government has decided to conduct a fresh survey for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) across the country. “The assembly will have to formally approve the survey,” said BISP Chairperson Marvi Memon while speaking to the media in Gilgit on Sunday.

“The survey will be carried once again to ensure financial assistance to all deserving families,” she said. According to Memon, wishes of the Gilgit-Baltistan government will be taken into account while collecting data in Gilgit.



BISP is a non-conditional cash transfer programme initiated by the Pakistan Peoples Party government in 2008. At least 54,471 people are provided support under BISP’s umbrella in G-B. At least 36,788 reside in Gilgit while the rest hail from Baltistan.

Growing numbers

As per figures available on the programme’s website, the number of beneficiaries increased from 1.7 million households between 2008 and 2009 to approximately 4.7 million by December 31, 2014. BISP’s annual disbursements have increased from Rs16 billion between 2008 and 2009 to Rs65 billion between 2013 and 2014.

Earlier in September, G-B Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Jafarullah had also announced the BISP survey will be carried out again to ensure no deserving person is left out. According to the deputy speaker, the previous government had collected flawed and inaccurate data.

No comment

Memon, who is also a senior member of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, refused to comment on the results of local government elections in Punjab and Sindh.

“I don’t have updates about the results and therefore can’t comment on them,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Memon visited families in Danyor who were affected by the devastating earthquake that ripped through the region on October 26. She also plans to visit Ghizer district – which has been particularly affected by the catastrophe – to obtain first-hand information about the extent of the damage.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2015.