BISP is a ray of hope for the deserving people of Balochistan: Senator Rubina Khalid
HUB, August 22(SABAH): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Senator Rubina Khalid, has stated that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is a ray of hope for the deserving people of Balochistan.
She made this remark during her speech while presiding over a meeting at the LIEDA Conference Hall concerning the Benazir Income Support Programme in Balochistan on the occasion of her visit to Hub.
Chief Minister’s Coordinator for Industries, Mir Ali Hasan Zehri, Director General BISP Islamabad, Naveed Akbar, Director South Zone, Munir Sasoli, Director Generals of Sindh and Balochistan, Deputy Commissioner Hub, Rohana Gul Kakar, and other administrative officers participated in the meeting. During the briefing, Naveed Akbar informed the participants that BISP centers are operational in 43 tehsils and 158 sub-tehsils of Balochistan.
Two million deserving people in Balochistan are benefiting from the Benazir Income Support Programme. The Chairperson was also informed that 20 billion rupees are being distributed among beneficiaries in Balochistan under various initiatives, including Taleemi Wazaif, Benazir Kafaalat Programme, Benazir Nashonuma Programme, and other welfare programs. It was noted that due to a lack of internet access in remote areas of Balochistan, many beneficiaries are unable to benefit from the programme. To address this issue, the need for satellite vans was highlighted. Out of 25 satellite vans designated for the BISP programme, 18 vehicles are currently operating in 18 districts.
On this occasion, the DG BISP mentioned in the briefing that many beneficiaries have faced difficulties in accessing the program due to the non-issuance of computerized birth certificates and Form B in remote areas of Balochistan, particularly in mountainous areas like Mashkilal, Driji, and Kinraj. Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized that it is a priority to provide satellite mobile vans to overcome the shortage of human resources and to facilitate the impoverished population in remote areas.
Senator Rubina Khalid further stated that, following the directives of Chairman Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto, instructions have been issued to all officers to make the payment of financial assistance to BISP beneficiaries as easy as possible. Measures are being taken to ensure card issuance and timely payment. In this regard, President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the Governor of the State Bank to take necessary actions. Senator Rubina Khalid also remarked that the government is committed to ensuring transparency and good governance in BISP. The BISP coverage in Balochistan has been expanded, with seven new zones being established.
Vacancies at the provincial level will be filled soon. On the proposal of Mir Ali Hasan Zehri, the meeting approved the establishment of a Benazir Nashonuma Center in the Hub district.
Deputy Commissioner Hub, Ruhana Gul Kakar, informed the Chairperson BISP during the briefing that the Hub district administration, with the support of the Lasbela Chamber of Commerce, has initiated a program to provide dignified employment to the unemployed, especially women, by offering training courses at the vocational institute. Technical courses are being conducted according to the needs of the industries. Chairperson BISP praised this initiative by the district administration and suggested that this should be a model project for BISP to reduce poverty and generate income.
Later, Senator Rubina Khalid and Industry Advisor Mir Ali Hassan Zahri visited the Nutrition Food Item Factory located in the LIEDA Industrial Zone. Deputy Commissioner Hub, Ruhana Gul Kakar, and MD LIEDA, Farid Muhammad Hosni, also accompanied the visit. The company manufacturing nutrition food items provided a briefing during the visit, highlighting that the company is delivering quality nutrition items as per the requirements of the United Nations Food Authority. On this occasion, MD LIEDA, Farid Muhammad Hosni, welcomed Senator Rubina Khalid and Balochistan Advisor Industries, Mir Ali Hassan Zahri, to the LIEDA Industrial Zone. Farid Muhammad Hosni mentioned that due to the interest and cooperation of President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesman for Balochistan, Mir Ali Hassan, industrialists are now turning their attention to Balochistan. The industrial sector in Balochistan is rapidly developing.