Muhammad Asad Tahir Bhawana

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has made a remarkable progress in extending support to those in need, data available with WealthPK showed. The Benazir Kafalat program has witnessed a substantial increase in coverage, from 7.6 million to 9 million families, reflecting commitment to inclusivity and reaching out to the most vulnerable populations. To enhance the well-being of beneficiaries, the cash transfer stipend has been raised by 25%, from Rs7,000 to Rs8750 a quarter per family. This increase has offered the much-needed relief and support to the economically disadvantaged households. Moreover, the BISP budgetary allocation was significantly augmented from Rs235 billion in FY2021-22 to Rs404.2 billion in FY2022-23. This notable 72% increase in financial commitment underscored the government's efforts to uplift the less-privileged.

The BISP's exemplary financial management is evident from the disbursement of Rs404.2 billion during the past year, achieving a near-perfect utilization rate of 99.99%. This efficient disbursement mechanism ensured timely financial aid to beneficiaries. The introduction of Dynamic Registry represents a transformative step toward accuracy and efficiency. This transition has enabled the program to maintain up-to-date beneficiary information. Notably, over 2.8 million households have been re-surveyed in the last five months alone. The Benazir Taleemi Wazaif initiative contributed to a remarkable increase of 189% in children's enrolment from 2.6 to 7.52 million. This initiative is vital for fostering a brighter future for the youth. Similarly, the expansion of Benazir Nashonuma coverage from 15 pilot districts to all districts has resulted in a substantial enrolment increase of 285%, reaching 0.85 million beneficiaries.

This expansion reflects the program's dedication to providing healthcare support to the vulnerable populations. The program enrolled transgender persons, recognizing their rights and offering them equal opportunities. During the flood-related emergencies, the BISP swiftly disbursed Rs70 billion to 2.8 million flood-affected families, providing Rs25,000 per family. Furthermore, an essential fuel subsidy of Rs16.3 billion was granted to 8.6 million families at Rs2,000 per household, alleviating their financial burden and ensuring access to necessary resources. Benazir scholarships for undergraduates were increased from 82,000 to 92,000, providing the deserving students with access to higher education. To address the emergency needs during floods, a blanket Specialized Nutritious Food allocation of Rs1 billion was allocated to pregnant and lactating women and children under two years, safeguarding their well-being.

The Conditional Cash Transfer program now extends to Balochistan, strengthening support for marginalized communities. To ensure inclusivity, Mobile Registration Vehicles have been introduced for surveys in remote areas, ensuring that no deserving family is left behind. The Benazir Social Protection Accounts, a recent initiative, empowers the deserving women to choose their preferred banks, access check books, and debit cards, and switch banks if necessary. The program's commitments for the current fiscal year (FY2023-24) include a 17% increase in the annual budget, expanded coverage for various initiatives, and increased budgetary allocations to further support poverty alleviation and social welfare.

Credit: INP-WealthPk