Benazir Income Support Programme Beneficiaries Increased To 5.6 Million Till Last Year

The number of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), increased from 3.73 million in 2012-13 to 5.6 million as on 31st December 2017.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2018 ) :The number of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), increased from 3.73 million in 2012-13 to 5.6 million as on 31st December 2017. The present government increased BISP budgetary allocations from Rs 70 billion in FY 2012-13 to Rs 121 billion in last five years raising the quarterly cash grant from Rs 3,000 per family in 2012-13 to Rs 4834 in FY 2016-17.

These figures were shared by Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Miftah Ismail, while addressing a press conference, to present Economic Survey of Pakistan, here on Thursday. It said the allocated funds for BISP beneficiaries were raised to Rs 75 billion in FY2013-14, which was subsequently enhanced to Rs 97 billion in FY 2014-15, Rs 102 in FY 2015- 16, Rs 115 billion in FY 2016-17 and for the current fiscal year allocation is Rs 121 billion.

BISP is a Federal unconditional cash transfer Social Safety Net initiative of Government of Pakistan. Its long term objectives include enhance financial capacity of poor people and their dependent family members.

It also formulated and implemented comprehensive policies and targeted programmes for the uplift of underprivileged and vulnerable, reduce poverty and promote equitable distribution of wealth especially for the low.

BISP has the largest database of poorest of poor families in the country which is the output of the largest and first ever door to door poverty survey. This data is used for the planning of pro-poor development policies and programmes and has been shared through protocols with various international and national organizations for research purposes.