NUZHAT NAZIR &

WASIM IQBAL

ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is expected to make a presentation to the Prime Minister on its various existing and proposed programmes, with a focus on Waseela Sehat Programme in order to bring it in line with the manifesto of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI).

Sources said that Ministry of Finance has started reviewing the BISP programme to bring it in line with PTIs priorities, especially in the health sector.

The health and nutrition programme will aim at reducing the number of stunted children, as has been highlighted by Prime Minister Imran Khan in his pre and post election speeches as well as in his victory speech on July 26, and again in his first address to the nation on August 19.

An official of BISP told Business Recorder that the government was also in the process of appointing chairman BISP. The caretaker Premier had removed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Marvi Memon as chairperson of BISP after criticism from different political quarters.

“As the BISP targets the deprived and neglected segment of society, strengthening and expanding the existing programme is an option. BISP manages multiple programs under one roof including Waseela-e-Taleem, the National Socioeconomic Registry (NSER), E-Commerce, Cash Grant, Waseela-e-Haq and Waseela-e-Sehet,” said a source.

Pakistan Muslim League-N allocated Rs 124.7 billion for BISP in fiscal year 2018-19 and beneficiaries of BISP increased from 3.73 million in 2012-13 to 5.6 million as on 31st December 2017.

In 2013 BISP released Rs 3,000 per quarter to each beneficiary which was raised to Rs 4834 per quarter in 2017-18. The health safety card scheme launched in Khyber Pukhtukhwa to be expanded to Islamabad and FATA as well as Punjab can be managed through BISP where the vulnerable have already been identified, sources added.

BISP is dedicated to fight poverty by employing multiple social protection instruments designed to bring a sustainable positive change in the lives of persistently excluded and deprived families.

The Government of Pakistan and the World Bank are the main financiers of BISP Waseela-e-Sehat initiative.