President Zardari calls for expanding outreach of BISP, number of beneficiaries

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari this week underscored the need for enhancing the outreach of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as well as the number of beneficiaries for the uplift of underprivileged sections of society.

President Zardari was talking to Chairperson BISP Rubina Khalid during a briefing on the program.

President Asif Ali Zardari asked the Chairperson of BISP to establish an office at Gwadar so that the deserving people of the area could benefit from the Programme.

Taking note of the 0.45 percent service charges by the banks from BISP cardholders, President Zardari said that the service charges need to be waived off, and in this regard, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should be approached.

The President said that the new payment system would also protect BISP beneficiaries from exploitation.

President Zardari also called for engaging donors and the private sector to support BISP in its endeavours to provide scholarships to the maximum number of deserving students.

During the briefing, President Zardari was informed about the core initiatives taken by BISP, including the Benazir Kafalat Program, Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Program, BISP Scholarships for Undergraduates Program and Benazir Nashounuma Program.

The BISP Chairperson informed that 598.718 billion rupees have been allocated for BISP during the ongoing fiscal year.

Rubina Khalid said that Benazir Kafalat is the flagship program of BISP, providing unconditional cash transfers to eligible women and transgender persons across Pakistan.