Mega Projects

In implementation of the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party Government in its very first budget initiated a scheme to provide support and sustenance to the vulnerable section of the society hit hard by high inflation of the past few years. A budgetary allocation of Rs. 34 billion was made in 2008-09 budget.

The scheme called “the Benazir Income Support Programme” envisages monthly payment of Rs. 1000 to each family identified eligible thereunder. The task of identification of the beneficiaries which was initially entrusted to all members of the National Assembly and the Senate, has now been extended to the members of the Provincial Assemblies. Besides the four Provinces, the Programme also extends to Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Northern Areas.

Across-the-Board extension of identification of the beneficiaries to all political parties and executive transparency of the Programme’s implementation, has attracted appreciation and support from international donor organizations including the World Bank. With a view to ensuring that no eligible family is left uncovered from the benefits of the Programme, it has now been decided to carry out a house-to- house survey through the world renowned   method called the “scorecard”.  Initially, a test survey is being undertaken from April, 2009 in 16 Districts spread in all the Provinces and AJK/NA. Experience gained from this test survey which is expected to be completed in two months, will be helpful in identification of shortcomings and their rectification for full survey in the remaining Districts. The latter is likely to be completed by end of this year. The World Bank has agreed to provide Technical Assistance of US $ 60 million to meet the cost of the scorecard survey as well as institutional improvement of the programme.

Until March 2009, the number of beneficiaries identified under the Programme were 2.9 million. While NADRA is processing the recommended cases, 1.6 million cases have been forwarded to Pakistan Post for payment. The payments are in progress. An amount of Rs. 6.07 billion has been disbursed so far. The payments are being made with effect from 1^st October, 2008 when the Programme was formally launched.

For enhancing transparency in the Programme a comprehensive website of BISP has been launched which contains a database of all applications made to the BISP. Through the website, each applicant can track the status of her application and payments. All Parliamentarians have also been provided a username and password for the website to access the details of all applications referred by them.

While the number of the beneficiaries of the programme is proposed to be doubled from the current number of 3.5 million families, work on devising an exit strategy is also in hand. This will include Technical Training and Skill Development as well as Micro-financing for the identified families. It is also planned to include Health and Accident Insurance, Utility Stores Discount in the Programme to make it a comprehensive Social Protection Package. Technology based Benazir Smart Card is being tested to include these value added services to the poor. A “Hajj For All” scheme is also proposed to be introduced through this Card.

As a special initiative, an Emergency Relief Package was also introduced under the BISP to provide financial assistance in the form of cash grants to the Internally Displaced Persons in NWFP and the affectees of the earthquake in Baluchistan. The victims of bomb blasts will also be included in the Emergency Relief Package of BISP.