SKARDU, Pakistan: The Minister of State and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon has said that BISP is shifting its payment mechanism to Biometric Verification System (BVS) for payments as it will further ease payment mechanism and eliminate middleman culture.
While speaking during her visits to various payment points and beneficiary households at Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu, Marvi Memon said that at present, 83.9 percent of beneficiaries are drawing their stipends through debit cards, 13 percent through biometric mechanism and 3 percent are receiving funds through Pakistan Post.
The Speaker Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly Fida Muhammad Nashad also accompanied the BISP Chairperson in her visits which were aimed at to inspect the proper functioning of payment points, timely release of full payments to beneficiaries by the banks, interact with the beneficiaries and gain firsthand information regarding their satisfaction level with the service delivery and customer care of BISP.
The Benazir Income Support Programme has recently released its quarterly payments worth Rs 25 billion in last week of December 2016.
The BISP payments in Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu are made through Debit Cards therefore the Chairperson visited different ATMs and point of sale (POS). The Chairperson inspected the disbursement of the stipend at the remote payment points in Baltistan. She interacted with beneficiaries for their feedback. She told them to contact BISP Hotline 080026477 in case of any difficulty.
The Chairperson visited the beneficiaries Zubeida, Fatima, Khadija and Amna Bibi at their homes in Shigar.
While condoling with Fatima Bibi on the martyrdom of her son in Wana, Marvi Memon said that state is highly indebted to Fatima Bibi on her great sacrifice for the country. Later on, she also visited beneficiary households in Khaplu for feedback.
The Chairperson held meetings with local notables as well.
Marvi Memon informed them about the new survey for National Social Economic Survey (NSER) update. She said that the pilot phase of survey is under process in four districts where desks are setup to register people. Door to door survey will be launched in 12 pilot districts soon followed by the national roll out. The local notables came up with suggestions regarding the new survey and poverty scorecard.
The Chairperson assured that their reservations have been noted and would be considered.
Marvi said that the BISP is fully committed to bring dignity, empowerment and meaning to life of its beneficiaries. She said that whether it is scorching heat or freezing winters, BISP is always present at the service of the vulnerable and poorest of the poor.
