MIRPUR (AJK: The Federal Government is seriously contemplating to introduce new BISP products which include provision of loans and skill training to poor women across the country.
These new products will be introduced under the Benazir Income Support Programme for ameliorating the socio-economic conditions of women folk, said Minister of State and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon on Sunday.
She was addressing besides celebrating Eid ul Fitr with the women members of Benazir Beneficiary Committees (BBC) at their doorstep in Mian Mohammad town here.
The Minister exchanged Eid greetings with the participants of a big gathering of the women including the BBC members and inquired about their well-being.
Divisional Director BISP Khizer Hayat highlighted the salient features of the ongoing BISP-sponsored welfare programmes in Mirpur and Rawalakot Divisions of Aazd Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Marvi Memon said that the proposed new products will be launched with the coordination of the provinces to benefit maximum deserving women from poor and down-trodden class in order to make them self-reliant economically.
She said that the government was also seriously thinking about imparting professional training to the unskilled women in the BBCs to make them skilled in different disciplines. “The welfare programme primarily envisages the empowerment of women through getting them rid of poverty,” she added.
The minister said that incumbent government in Pakistan primarily intended to ensure and secure the dignity, honour and respect of the women in the country through ensuring their empowerment in true perspective.
She said that the formation of the Banezir Beneficiary Committees (BBCs), headed by Mother Leaders, was primarily aimed at ensuring the direct participation of the deserving poor women.
The minister invited the suggestions from the members of the BBCs to ensure further improvement and a vibrant role of these committees to benefit maximum deserving women under the broad-based welfare programme.
Marvi Memon said that a new survey will be conducted under the BISP to ensure the benefit of rest of deserving poor women with the welfare products of the Benazir Income Support Programme. “The undeserving women will be deleted off the programme in the new survey,” she said.
The minister directed for further improving the unconditional transaction programme besides the mechanism of the use of ATM Cards by the beneficiary women under the BISP.
Later talking to newsmen, Mavi Memon said that her visit to the members of the Benazir Beneificiary Committees in Mirpur was primarily aimed at excahnging Eid greetings with thwm at their doorsteps.
She said that direct frequent access of the BBCs members to the government would help in bringing maximum number of the poor women class under the fold of the BISP for their due benefits.
To a question about the recent unprovoked firing by the Indian troops on the Line of Control and Working Boundary, the Minister said that the PML (N) government has given a befitting response to India over the aggressive posture of New Delhi.
She said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country as “we want to live with peace.”
The minister said that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sahrif and the Foreign Office of Pakistan were in constant touch with the international community to apprise them of the recent Indian aggression on the LoC in AJK as well as the Working Boundary.
International community was watching the constant abuse of the international laws, norms and commitments through the frequent violations of the LoC and the WB by India, she added.
She expressed that hope that Indian would opt to live in peace in line with the peace-loving posture of Pakistan.
In her message to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Marvi said “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan.”
Pakistan, she said, always raised the Kashmir issue at international level in an effective manner.
She expressed the optimism that the day will soon come when all the issues including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir will be settled peacefully.
