The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has disbursed an enhanced amount of Rs. 8500 to 7.5 million registered beneficiaries across the country. The quarterly stipend, covering the months of January to March, has been distributed through designated banks or point of sale (POS) agents.
In a press release issued on Friday, the BISP stated that 9 million deserving families registered under the Benazir Kafaalat program were eligible to receive cash assistance. Along with the quarterly tranche, the program has also paid the quarterly instalment of Benazir Taleemi Wazaif to eligible families. Children of registered beneficiaries who attend school with an attendance rate of over 70% are entitled to this benefit.
Furthermore, the Sindh government's initiative to distribute Rs. 2000 per family as an Atta subsidy has also been underway, with 26.8 million beneficiaries having received the subsidy amount in Sindh Province. Additionally, under the Wheat Seed Subsidy Programme, Rs. 3.15 billion has been disbursed among 1.33 million flood-affected farmers in the province through the BISP.
However, there have been reports of illegal deductions by bank agents during payment of the cash assistance. The BISP has launched a crackdown on alleged agents involved in such activities and has registered multiple FIRs and made arrests accordingly. Senior officials of the program have also carried out surprise visits to payment centres and blacklisted agents involved in illegal deductions.
Federal Minister and Chairperson of BISP, Ms. Shazia Marri, has directed relevant authorities to take strict action against such agents. Beneficiaries have been urged to lodge complaints at their nearest Tehsil office of BISP or contact the helpline number 0800-26477 in case of any grievances.
The BISP's efforts to assist deserving families during these challenging times have been commendable, and the program is making significant strides in achieving its objectives of alleviating poverty and promoting social welfare in the country.
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