The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Sindh government have inked an agreement to launch the Waseela-e-Haq Sindh Programme.
BISP Secretary Sher Khan and Finance Special Secretary for Sindh, Sohail Rajput signed the agreement on behalf of the BISP and the Sindh government respectively. Under the agreement, the BISP would provide technical assistance to the Sindh government by providing it detailed information about the deserving youth of the province. It will also assist in designing and implementing the programme and training the beneficiaries. The Sindh Government will provide interest free financial assistance worth Rs 300,000 to each of the beneficiaries to initiate their own businesses. The scheme will be executed in cooperation with the Sindh Bank. BISP Chairperson Farzana Raja, while addressing a press conference after the signing ceremony, said the scheme was initiated on President Asif Ali Zardari’s directions. It would provide financial assistance to people aged between 19 and 35 who had at least been educated till matriculation. She added that the beneficiaries would be trained to run and execute their business before being provided financial assistance. The chairperson said currently more than 6 million families or 4 crore individuals were benefiting from the BISP’s projects. She stated that the eligibility for Waseela-e-Haq was ascertained on the basis of the data collected through BISP’s nationwide poverty survey. She added that union council members will be involved in the programme to benefit 35,000 young people. She said: “The BISP is a national asset and a comprehensive poverty alleviation programme. Philanthropists should come forward and support the cause.” Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah called Waseela-e-Haq a revolutionary step to curb unemployment and poverty in the province. He said 25 lakh families from Sindh had benefitted from BISP. He appreciated the BISP’s performance and said its transparency was acknowledged globally.
