ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai Saturday said poverty was major cause of inequality in country and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) needed to do more for its reduction in province.
Speaking at plenary conference on BISP Progress Report 2014-16, he shared that BISP was instrument for development as it supported the Sustainable Development Goals of poverty reduction, zero hunger, quality education and gender equality.
BISP Chairperson Marvi Memon presented BISP Progress Report 2014-16 to the governor. The conference was attended by provincial legislators, local government heads, Secretaries of various departments, representatives of NGOs, civil society, journalists and BISP’s beneficiaries.
The Governor lauded the efforts of BISP in enrolling children to schools adding that the programme was defining the future of Pakistan by educating its future generations, said a news release received here.
On the occasion, the BISP Chairperson stated that the comprehensive policies of the government had resulted in improved development situation in Baluchistan. Farsighted wisdom of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif brought all political stakeholders on board and today Baluchistan was en route towards development and prosperity, she added.
The Chairperson presented an overview of achievements made by BISP in last two years. She stated that 24,0428 households of Balochistan received BISP stipend on quarterly basis. Waseela-e-Taleem (WeT) initiative was going successfully in Loralai, Musa Khel, Nauski, Jal Magsi, Gwadar and Awaran that had registered 26,405 children in schools, she added.
Pilot phase of new poverty survey to update National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) has been started.Killa Saifullah, Kech and Nasirabad will be covered in the pilot phase that will be completed by March 2017. She reiterated that no area would be left out in the new poverty survey.
BISP survey teams would reach each and every corner of the country. BISP believed in customer care and effective service delivery, she said adding the programme had started to switch over to Biometric Verification System (BVS) to ensure transparency and efficiency in payment mechanism. BISP Board has approved New Payment Model. It will be piloted by March 2017 tranche and its national roll out will be initiated by December 2017.
The BISP Chairperson paid tributes to beneficiaries who despite financial and social constraints were fighting against poverty courageously.
The BISP not only supported against poverty but believed in dignified, empowered and meaningful life for its beneficiaries, the chairperson added. The Governor distributed appreciation certificates among BISP beneficiaries from all across the Balochistan for their struggle against poverty.
On the occasion, beneficiaries shared that besides empowering them socially and economically, BISP was a mean of survival for them.
