Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will launch 'National Poverty Survey' from May to identify the number of poor families across the country. The survey will be completed in 24 districts of Balochistan on priority basis till June, Chairperson BISP, Farzana Raja told APP.
She said that the poverty survey will collect the new technology based information about the vulnerable segments of society. The pilot survey has been completed in 15 districts and process of distribution of 'Benazir Smart Cards' among six million families of these areas will be initiated in the coming month.
She said that the health insurance plan will also be launched in June this year. The insurance companies will pay the insurance cover upto 25,000 per year to the registered families.
The vocational training will also be imparted to the one member of the registered families to raise their living standards, making them economically stable. Farzana said that BISP ordinance has unanimously been approved by the concerned standing committee and will be tabled in the National Assembly soon. The programme, after getting permanent enactment, will continue benefiting a number of poor families in the coming years. The number of families registered now is 2.7 million, which will reach to five to seven million during next year, she said.
BISP has reached 2.7 million families in a period of one year and it will help alleviating poverty upto 20 percent during next three years, if it moves on the same pace. The main focus of the programme is on women empowerment and poverty alleviation. The country is working on the fast pace and taking out all efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).