PM receives briefing on Benazir Income Support Programme

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a detailed briefing on the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the country's flagship social protection initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to the most vulnerable segments of society.

The briefing was presented to the prime minister to update him on the current status, progress, and operations of the programme, which serves as Pakistan's largest cash transfer initiative for underprivileged families across the country.

BISP's role in social protection

The Benazir Income Support Programme has been a cornerstone of Pakistan's social safety net, providing direct cash transfers to millions of deserving families. The programme, originally launched in 2008, has expanded over the years to cover a wide range of welfare initiatives including education stipends and health coverage for low-income households.

The prime minister was briefed on the various aspects of the programme's functioning, including its reach and the mechanisms in place for identifying and assisting beneficiaries across Pakistan's provinces and regions.

Government's commitment to welfare

The briefing session underscores the federal government's continued focus on social protection measures and ensuring that financial assistance reaches deserving citizens effectively. BISP remains one of the key instruments through which the government channels support to families living below the poverty line.

The programme has been recognised internationally as one of the more effective targeted cash transfer programmes in the developing world, using poverty scorecards and digital verification systems to identify eligible beneficiaries.

The prime minister's engagement with the programme's progress reflects the administration's prioritisation of welfare policies as part of its broader governance agenda. The briefing covered the operational framework of BISP and the steps being taken to enhance transparency and efficiency in the disbursement of funds to beneficiaries.

BISP has undergone several reforms in recent years aimed at improving targeting accuracy and expanding coverage to ensure that no deserving family is left behind in the government's social protection efforts.