ISLAMABAD Pakistan: The Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid has informed the Senate that the number of Benazir Income Support Programs (BISP) beneficiaries that were paid stipend in 2013 was 3.78 million whereas in 2017, 5.46 million beneficiaries have been paid stipend.
While speaking during the question hour in the Senate of Wednesday, the minister said that BISP has made commendable progress under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government during the last four years highlighting the commitment of the government to the poor and vulnerable of the Country.
Zahid Hamid said that the budget allocation for BISP that was Rs 70 billion in 2013, jumped to Rs 121 billion in 2017. He said that the quarterly stipend increased from Rs 3000/quarter in 2013 to Rs 4834 in 2016.
The Senate was informed that about 165,800 from Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and 39,9269 Malakand Division beneficiaries had been included in the BISP programme.
While giving the breakup of FATA, Zahid Hamid said that Orakzai agency 7,222, Bajaur agency 57,648, Mohmand agency 25,645, North Waziristan agency 100, South Waziristan agency 5035, Khyber agency 51,399, and Kurram agency 18,751 are getting stipend from the BISP.
Zahid further said that BISP has made itself the pride of Pakistan and a role model for international social safety nets winning Pakistan recognition internationally. He said that BISP is contributing immensely to institution building and poverty alleviation in Pakistan.
The minister also informed the Senate that BISP door to door survey will be completed by May next year.
