The Pakistan government says Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will include more beneficiaries to widen its scope for helping low-income households.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Faisal Karim Kundi said Rs70 billion has been distributed under the BISP in the flood-affected areas, according to a statement received by WealthPK.

The statement said Faisal Karim Kundi along with Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) Sajid Hussain Turi met delegations of the Pakistan People's Party from Mohmand, Orakzai and Hangu districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and informed them about the government’s plans to expand the social safety net.

Participants of the Islamabad meeting exchanged views on a wide range of issues of regional, and economic development. The prospects and measures on the ongoing development projects and the way these projects could strengthen the economic conditions of people in Orakzai, Mohmand and Hangu districts were discussed.

The heads of delegations reaffirmed their commitment to adopt joint measures in the field of economic cooperation, which was an important part of ensuring socio-economic development and stability in the region. The delegation emphasised that more people from Orakzai, Mohmand and Hangu must be included in the BISP.

Sajid Turi said the merged tribal districts of KP province were among the most underdeveloped regions of Pakistan. He said the government was making efforts to provide relief to this vulnerable population. He said more sustainable solutions were needed to bring the merged districts of KP at par with other regions of the country in terms of development.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk