Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) an autonomous body working under the umbrella of Ministry of Women's Development, Social Welfare and Special Education has disbursed Rs 6.863 billion among the deserving people through its Food Support Programme (FSP).Giving details, the Managing Director PBM, Brigadier Sarfraz Ahmed (Retd) said the scheme was launched in August 2000 and the annual budget is Rs 2.5 billion.
He said initially the programme was for two years, but it has been further extended because of its efficacy and appeal to target communities.
The beneficiaries who were selected by the district food support steering committee are paid Rs 2000 per annum through their accounts maintained in the post offices throughout the country.
He said uptill now six instalments have been disbursed under food support programme to deserving people belonging to Punjab totalling Rs 3,463.138 million, Sindh Rs 1,465.843 million, NWFP/FATA Rs 1,298.120 million, Balochistan Rs 269.473 million and ICT/AJK/N.
Areas Rs 367.189 million.
Sources said funds for the disbursement of 7th instalment have been released and all the post offices have been directed to start disbursement of Rs 1200 per household by March 15, 2004.
They said that the programme has been developed carefully to address poorest of the poor of the country.
It was decided that in order to ensure transparency and affective monitoring and evaluation, a Food Support Programme Management System (FSPMS) has been established.
The main aim to establish this system was to contain a database of 1.212 million poorest of the poor households, enable the management to have computerised reports on disbursements etc and to check the duplication of accounts and ensures transparency.
Other aims are to capable of having interface with MIS of other poverty reduction programmes ie, Zakat, Khushhali Bank, provincial Bait-ul-Mal etc, interface with Nadra for verification of identity card, speedy delivery of instalments and strengthening the monitor progress.
They said that PBM is endeavouring to transform into an e-governance organisation in order to facilitate the general public for dissemination of information, forms to expedite disbursement of financial assistance, medical treatment, rehabilitation, education and shelter to the poor people.
PBM is also planning of setting up of institute of burns and reconstructive plastic surgery in Punjab because this facility for treatment is almost non-existent in the entire country.
Although financial assistance (doles) serves as an economic shock therapy for a poor individual, however the focus of PBM is to concentrate on the rehabilitation of deserving people including destitute women and handicapped in order to financially empower them and make them self reliant.
The PBM has also planned to establish network of dialysis center in collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as a private-public project.
Moreover, PBM would also set up advance diagnostic facilities at least one in each province.
While PBM has also decided to establish Dar-ul-Kafala (old homes) for the senior citizens and construction of affordable housing colonies (Sasti Basti) on the pattern of Larkana housing colony in other provinces as well for the shelter-less.
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