Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Faisal Karim Kundi has directed the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to expand its operations to benefit the maximum number of people.

He was speaking during a briefing held here at BISP headquarters. Federal Secretary of BISP Yusuf Khan briefed Faisal Karim Kundi on all the components of BISP, including Benazir Kafalat, Benazir Taleemi Wazaif, Benazir Nashonuma, and Benazir Undergraduate Programme.

As part of the BISP's regular funding, he said, about 8.1 million families receive Rs 7000 every quarter in the country, and the current Proxy Means Test is 32.

Yusuf Khan said, “The BISP is in the process of completing the disbursement of Rs 70 billion among 2.7 million families under the Prime Minister’s Cash relief in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.” He added that so far 97.3% of disbursement has been completed.

He said that BISP under the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif has granted Rs. 21.6 billion to students in classes 1 through 12, and the girls receive a little bit more stipends to help support their families.

Yusuf Khan said that under Benazir Undergraduate Programme, 92,000 students of poor families - enrolled at approved public sector educational institutions - are being funded with tuition fees and in addition, Rs 40,000 annually for their expenditures. In the last two years, Rs 20.62 billion has been disbursed in this regard, he added.

He said that BISP is revamping the current payment system and introducing a new banking system. Under this system, the beneficiaries would open their own bank accounts to get funding in a dignified way.

After the briefing, Faisal Karim Kundi visited different parts of BISP headquarters, including its Call Center and the National Socio-Economic Registry Section.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk