Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri has stated on Friday that budget of BISP has been enhanced to Rs 364 billion. She said a new payment mechanism is being considered to ensure that the women beneficiaries get the payments in a dignified manner. She informed the National Assembly during question hour that this 5.7 billion rupees program is being prepared with the cooperation of the Ministry of Planning. She said the key interventions under this program will include development of forty village social enterprises around agriculture and livestock value chains and transfer of productive assets to the eighty thousand ultra-poor households for income generation and self-reliance.

She said digital skills will be imparted to fifteen thousand rural poor particularly the youth to harness the potential of e-commerce and freelancing as well as to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural youth. She said financial services will be provided to eighty thousand poor households for livelihood development and diversification. Responding to a supplementary question, the Minister for Poverty Alleviation said the devastating floods have badly impacted our people. At present, she said, assessment is being carried out as to how the floods have impacted their social economic condition.

She said targeted cash relief has been provided to the flood victims under Benazir Income Support Program. Shazia Marri said that the budget of BISP has been enhanced to three hundred and sixty four billion rupees. She said a new payment mechanism is being considered to ensure that the women beneficiaries get the payments in a dignified manner. Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Nadeem Abbass said that 3G and 4G services are available to seventy eight percent population of the country. He said the government is now in the process of consultation for assessing 5G technology launch in the country.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP