Benazir Income Support Programme

Benazir Income Support Programme
بینظیر انکم سپورdefaceٹ پروگرام
AbbreviationBISP
Named afterBenazir Bhutto
FormationJuly 2008; 16 years ago (2008-07)
TypeSocial safety net
FocusHealth, Education, Social Protection, Reduce poverty, Enhance financial capacity of poor people
HeadquartersF-Block, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
MethodsDonations, Scholarship
OwnerGovernment of Pakistan
Chairperson of BISP
Vacant
AffiliationsGovernment of Pakistan
Budget
US$ 1.15 Billion [1]
Employees
2,381 [2]
Websitebisp.gov.pk
The program is named after Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is a federal unconditional cash transfer poverty reduction program in Pakistan. Launched in July 2008, it was the largest single social safety net program in the country with nearly Rs. 90 billion ($900 million) distributed to 5.4 million beneficiaries in 2016.[3]

The program distributed Rs.19,338 (or approx. $195) per annum distributed per month in the year 2016.[4] The stipend is linked to the Consumer Price Index and is paid through a smart card.[5] The Department for International Development of the United Kingdom is the largest foreign backer of the program, providing $244 million (or 27%) of the total funds in 2016 with the Pakistani Government providing the rest.[6][7]

A separate ministry, Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety (PASS), was established[8] and Benazir Income Support Program was made part of the Poverty Alleviation and Social Security Division.[9]

  1. ^ "Ehsaas Income Support Programme buget". pass.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Ehsaas Income Support Programme". pass.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  3. ^ "DFID lauds BISP performance by giving it overall 'A' rating". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) stipend increased". Dawn (newspaper). 2 October 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  5. ^ "PML-N Govt increases stipend for BISP beneficiaries". Associate Press Of Pakistan. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Aid watchdog defends UK funding of Benazir Income Support Programme - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Pakistan cash transfers defended as MP says aid programme amounts to 'exporting the dole'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  8. ^ "About us - PASS".
  9. ^ Shaheen, Sardar Sikander (1 March 2020). "BISP to function under federal government's Ehsaas Kifalat Programme". Brecorder. Retrieved 27 December 2020.