BISP increases cash support of Rs 1,000 for 1st Ramazan beneficiaries

ISLAMABAD:

The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) on Wednesday increased cash support for its beneficiaries, increasing the quarterly amount of the Benazir Kafalat Program by Rs 1,000, bringing the new stipend to Rs 14,500 from the first of Ramadan.

Additionally, BISP announced an increase of Rs 500 in stipends for beneficiaries of Benazir Educational Scholarships and Benazir Nashonuma Programme. These improvements are intended to provide more financial relief to program beneficiaries, particularly as the holy month of Ramazan approaches.

The decision was revealed during a live e-Katcheri session held at the BISP headquarters in Islamabad, headed by Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid.

e-Katcheris are interactive sessions designed to address public concerns, understand the challenges faced by beneficiaries and ensure timely resolution of any issues.

With the revised increase of Rs 1,000, the quarterly stipend for eligible women under the Benazir Kafalat Program was raised from Rs 13,500 to Rs 14,500. Meanwhile, the Benazir Educational Scholarship stipends for girls in the primary section were increased by Rs 500, taking the total to Rs 3,000. For secondary school students, the stipend was increased to Rs 3,800.

Addressing the participants in the session, Senator Rubina highlighted the importance of financial support, especially during Ramadan.

“The BISP is providing a significant improvement in financial assistance in view of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan,” he said. “Ramazan is a month of blessings, patience and compassion and in line with this spirit, BISP is providing maximum possible relief to deserving families.”

Furthermore, it emphasized the legitimate rights of beneficiaries, urging women to ensure that they receive the full amount owed to them and not to accept any unauthorized deductions. “The stipend is your legal right and BISP will initiate strict action against any attempt at unfair deduction or malpractice,” he warned.

Senator Rubina also encouraged women to have the confidence to raise their voices against injustice. He reiterated that no concessions would be made regarding the rights of BISP beneficiaries.

In case of any complaint, beneficiaries were urged to contact the BISP helpline at 0800-26477 or visit the nearest BISP office.

During the live e-Katcheri, 31 callers from across Pakistan directly contacted the BISP President to raise their concerns. The session lasted for an hour and BISP CEOs and relevant officials were present to ensure quick resolution of the complaints. The most common issues raised by callers included issues related to the new survey, biometric verification, program enrollment, and stipend disbursements.

Senator Rubina listened carefully to all the complaints and issued clear directives to the authorities concerned, emphasizing that no negligence would be tolerated in addressing public grievances. He stressed that all matters must be resolved within the stipulated time frame, ensuring that there are no delays or oversights in meeting the needs of the beneficiaries.