Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterated government's commitment to institutionalise and extend social security package for the poor and vulnerable segment of the society. The Prime Minister was talking to Farzana Raja Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme at the Prime Minister's House here Friday.
He congratulated the people and the Chairperson of BISP on the launch of 'life insurance scheme' in collaboration with State Life Insurance Corporation, for the registered beneficiaries. The scheme, he said, would undoubtedly give a sense of economic security to the deprived sections of population particularly in the far-flung areas of the country.
Gilani also appreciated the proposed Benazir Mobile Banking System being introduced by BISP for the poor beneficiaries, which, he said, would not only facilitate the beneficiaries, but also ensure complete transparency in the disbursement of cash grant. The system initially being introduced in Larkana, Batgram, Layyah and Musakhel, he added, should soon be expanded to other areas as well. The Prime Minister directed the Chairperson BISP to expedite the health insurance scheme for the poor and complete the same for launching till the end of current financial year.
Earlier, Farzana Raja briefed the Prime Minister on the Benazir Insurance Scheme and Benazir Mobile Banking System being introduced shortly. The Insurance Scheme, she mentioned, would be launched on January 1, 2011 and the Mobile Banking System soon after that.
The Insurance Scheme, she said, would initially cover one million registered beneficiaries, which would reach five million till June 2011. As regards, Mobile Banking System, she mentioned, would be introduced in four backward districts of Larkana, Layyah, Batagram and Musakhel. The registered beneficiaries in these districts, she said, would be given free mobiles by the mobile companies in collaboration with private banks along with 300 free minutes and Rs 100 free balance.
The Government, she added, would not be paying anything in this regard. As regards health insurance scheme, the Chairperson said that 80 percent of the work has been completed and she hoped it would be launched within this financial year as per directive of the Prime Minister. The poverty survey, she added, is also progressing well and would be completed in the next six months or so.-PR