BISP Board agrees on a new system of payment to beneficiaries ensuring their financial empowerment

ISLAMABAD, Dec 01, (SABAH): Ms Shazia Atta Marri, Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme while chairing 56th meeting of BISP Board of Directors acknowledged that organizations like, BISP, NADRA and partner Banks have worked tremendously to extend financial support to flood affectees in a short span of time and decided that BISP is going to adopt a new payment system under which the beneficiaries will be able to get funding directly through bank of their own choice which will ensure transparent cash disbursement mechanism.

The Board discussed the organisation’s structural reforms and approved policy for inclusions of transgender community as beneficiaries of Benazir Kafalat Programme of BISP and urged NADRA to simplify a system for updation of CNIC of transgender community. Ms. Shaiza Marri termed approval of Transgender Policy as a landmark achievement of the present government and urged the members of the Board of Directors to use their good offices and influence for mobilization this marginalized community, so that maximum number of transgenders may get benefit from this policy.

The Chairperson also informed the Board of Directors that under Prime Minister cash relief assistance for flood affected people PKR 70 billion has been disbursed among 2.8 million families for which she appreciated BISP manpower, NADRA and at certain level to partner banks and said that there is a lot more that still needs to be done for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

The Board meeting approved the autonomous working of procurement and also Cyber Crime Section and took decisions for the structural improvement of the BISP which includes up-gradation of five districts of Balochistan having a large number of beneficiaries also approved the structural reforms for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan regions The BISP Board approved Assistance Package for employees who die during service which includes a one time grant of Rs. 2 million for the employees of grade 1 to 8, Rs. 5 million for the employees of grade 9 to 16 and Rs. 7 million for employees in grade 17 and above.

The Board referred the proposal of revision of pay and allowances of BISP employees to the Finance and HR Committee. The Board was informed that since 2019, no revision of pay and allowance has been given to employees of BISP. The Board further introduced the contribution of provident fund, benevolent fund and group insurance policy to the regular employees of BISP. Dr. Qaider Bengali, Ms. Sania Riffiat, Usman Hassan were present in meeting while Haris Gazdar and Ashfaq Hassan Khan attended the meeting through video link while Secretary BISP, Yusuf Khan moderated the Board meeting. High level representatives from NADRA, Ministries of Poverty Alleviation and Finance Division, Officers of BISP were also present in the meeting.