Lahore: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Senator Rubina Khalid on Saturday said program's mission is to assist vulnerable populations regardless of political or religious ties. During a press conference at the BISP Central Zonal Office, she revealed that BISP currently offers financial support to 9.8 million qualifying families. The assistance aims to empower women and boost birth registration among children. Senator Khalid also mentioned that the program reflects the vision of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, subsequently enhanced by President Asif Ali Zardari. She emphasized that BISP distinguishes itself by recognizing women as household heads, a unique feature among social welfare programs. 

 

Highlighting a key development for Balochistan, Senator Khalid announced an increase in the Proxy Means Test (PMT) score threshold, rising from 32 to 60. This change will enable more families in the province to access health and education stipends. In her view, this expansion will reinforce social protection within the less developed regions of the province. 

 

Concerning the Benazir Skill Development Programme, Senator Khalid explained its purpose: to economically empower beneficiary women and their families by equipping them with marketable skills. Acknowledging the increasing global demand for skilled labor, she indicated that this initiative plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving living standards. 

 

To ensure financial transparency, BISP has partnered with six major banks to create biometric-verified accounts for beneficiary women. Supported by the State Bank of Pakistan, this arrangement ensures secure and efficient fund transfers. Moreover, Senator Rubina Khalid clarified that, in line with President Asif Ali Zardari’s directives, BISP is actively combatting illegal deductions and corruption. She urged the public to rely only on official communications from the helpline 8171, as BISP does not distribute survey forms or charge any fees. 

 

She further noted that BISP's successes have garnered international acclaim, with multiple countries undertaking study tours to learn from Pakistan's National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) and other advanced systems. In closing, she underscored the program's dedication to transparency and zero tolerance for corruption or any irregularities, with immediate action taken to address any violations.