Islamabad: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, while addressing an important press conference on Tuesday, said that the recent floods have caused massive devastation across the country. At such a critical time, political point-scoring must be avoided. She emphasized that while constructive criticism is welcome, baseless and irresponsible statements should be refrained from.
Senator Rubina Khalid categorically stated that if anyone has objections to the programme’s name, they must understand that the name ‘Benazir Income Support Programme’ will not be changed.
Highlighting BISP’s role in disaster relief, she recalled that during the devastating 2022 floods, BISP provided emergency assistance worth Rs. 70 billion, delivering Rs. 25,000 cash grants to 2.8 million affected families. She further added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, BISP’s database was effectively utilized to provide financial support to vulnerable households.
She noted that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has rightly demanded that flood relief should only be routed through BISP, as it remains the most credible and immediate channel. ‘We now await the Prime Minister’s formal directives in this regard,’ she added.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister’s Ramadan Relief Package, amounting to Rs. 20 billion for 4 million deserving families, was also disbursed through BISP.
The Chairperson further stated that BISP currently supports over 10 million families. She highlighted that the programme is monitored by international organizations, undergoes regular audits, and even attracts delegations from other countries seeking to learn from its model.
She also shared that under Benazir Taleemi Wazaif, which supports children in continuing their education, more than 400 students achieved A+ results, with four securing top positions. Similarly, the Benazir Nashonuma Programme is improving child health and reducing stunting in Pakistan, while the Benazir Hunarmand Programme is equipping youth with skills to help them become economically independent.
She added that under the guidance of the President and Prime Minister, BISP’s payment system is being fully digitized to enhance transparency and ease for beneficiaries.