The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is moving from social safety to social protection system by providing interest-free loans, health insurance and technical training to the poorest families, said Federal Minister/ Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja.
Addressing a seminar held at the Sustainable Development and Policy Institute on "Social Safety Net (BISP) Structural Development", she said BISP will soon introduce a comprehensive package covering health insurance and technical training for the families identified under the 'Poverty Survey' which is being conducted nation-wide.
She said BISP is currently giving financial assistance to 2.7 million families and aims to increase this number to 5 million by the end of this year, adding that the government is working tirelessly in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to eliminate poverty determining to realise the dream of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to provide Roti, Kapra and Makaan to every citizen.
She said Rs 300,000 loan was being given to deserving families through a computerised balloting process under the 'Waseela-e-Haq' scheme and utilisation of the loan was strictly monitored, adding that BISP will guide the recipient family on how to make good use of the loan by starting a profitable business.
Farzana briefed the gathering on how BISP was bringing technological change in the disbursement of financial aid by introducing Benazir Smart Cards through which the aid recipient could easily withdraw cash. She said, "BISP will start issuing Benazir Smart Cards to those families which are identified in the Poverty Survey."-PR