Chairperson, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Farzna Raja, MNA on Monday said that the PPP government had prepared a strategy for the poverty alleviation, adding that a comprehensive plan has been chalked out for next 10 to 15 years.
She was addressing a cheque distribution ceremony under Waseela-e-Haq Programme of the BISP in 30 deserving women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata here in Governor's House. She said BISP is striving hard for poverty alleviation, economic and social empowerment of women folk in the country.
She said short (five years), medium (10 years) and long term (15 years) planning have been made for eradication of poverty. Under Waseela Haq Programme, she said a woman of each deserving family is being provided Rs three lakh loan to start her own business and contribute towards her family economic uplift.
"This is an unprecedented programme in the social sector, which is envisaged to uplift living standard of deprived strata of the country besides poverty alleviation at grassroots level," she remarked. To bring women under social safety net, the BISP Chairperson said more than 15 million women across country have obtained their National Identity Cards because of the various pro-poor initiatives of BISP and achieved their identification as citizens of Pakistan.
In a short span of three years, she said BISP has achieved remarkable success due to continuous support and guidance of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who laid the foundation of this multi-faceted programme in line with vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.
Under roti, kapra and makan¬Alim, roshni and sub ko kam' slogan of PPP, she said six million deserving families comprising 40 million people have been included in BISP and one widow facilities were ensured for their facilitation. Following successful launch of its various welfare projects, ie Waseela-e- Haq, Waseela- e-Rozgaar and Waseela-e-Sahat, she said BISP is now focusing on enrolment of more than one million children of poor beneficiary families in schools in first phase under its Waseela-e-Taleem Programme.
She said BISP has signed Memorandum of Understanding with others stakeholders to send poor families children aged-5-12 under Waseela Taleem Programme to schools. Farzana Raja said this programme was for the poor people based on equality and irrespective of political affiliation, caste, colour, religion because the government did not believe on discrimination and favouritism and wants to run the country in line with constitution. She informed that one lakh rupees are being given to poor family, who did not afford medical facilities under Waseela Haq Health Scheme.
She said these measures have contributed a lot in the women empowerment in the country, including Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Fata. She said door-to-door poverty survey has been completed in Bajour and Kurram Agencies while it is under process in other tribal areas and would be completed soon.
She appreciated the co-operation of tribal elders, Maliks and elected representatives during survey in Fata. She said that BISP was commendable initiative of the present democratic government, which is beneficial to millions of poor families across Pakistan.