Expressing satisfaction on the pace of inclusion of beneficiaries’ families, Asian Development Bank (ADB) decided on Saturday to provide a further $ 200 million to Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
Financial Sector Specialist and ADB Mission Head Michiel Van der Awera announced this in a meeting with Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Farzana Raja at BISP Secretariat.
Besides others, Financial Sector Specialist Joao Farinha Fernandes and International Social Safety Net Specialist Chris Chamberlin were also present on the occasion.
The mission was on a two-week visit to Pakistan to identify various areas to provide further support to BISP, including registration of the remaining 2.5 million eligible BISP beneficiaries and strengthening of BISP’s graduation programmes, including vocational training, health insurance and additional cash transfer.
Earlier, BISP Chairperson apprised the mission about various strategies adopted by BISP and said that they were committed to abide by their ‘promise to the people of Pakistan’. She said ADB was satisfied with BISP’s performance at the end of PPP’s five-year term.
“We have fulfilled the promise made with the people of Pakistan and we will continue to serve the people in the future as well,” she added.
Farzana Raja said a poverty survey had been completed in five agencies of FATA, and 200,000 families had been identified as eligible from these areas.
She further added that the minorities of Pakistan had also been provided equal opportunities for the very first time through the BISP.
She said state-of-the-art technology was used in making the Benazir Debit Card, which had further strengthened the transparency of the programme. The mission would also hold meetings with other stakeholders, including National Database and Registration Authority, State Life Insurance Corporation, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, NAVTEC and other partner organisations of BISP.
It should be mentioned here that ADB’s assistance of $ 200 million under social protection development project would span over the next five years.
