Gilani orders speedy expansion of BISP
ISLAMABAD, Jun 21 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday directed the speedy expansion of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) with introduction of new technologies to provide financial benefits to vulnerable sections in all parts of the country. Addressing a ceremony organized by Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) here to hand over life insurance certificates and cheques to women and people affected by bomb blasts, he said the BISP programme is a real reflection of dreams of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for the poor people of Pakistan.
He said BISP is an important step of the government for the social protection of poor people and it is a matter of pride that the programme has become the centre of hopes of people due to its transparency, objectivity and performance.
The World Bank has also accepted the credibility of BISP as in a period of three years it has reached four million families which is a big success, he noted.
He praised Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja for taking forward the mission of Benazir Bhutto.
Benazir Bhutto wanted to make Pakistan a truly welfare state and she always deeply felt for the pain of the deprived sections and poor people, he remarked.  
The Prime Minister stated that BISP was playing an important role in alleviation of poverty and to empower women besides providing facilities of life insurance, vocational training and interest free loans so that women can start their own businesses under Waseela-e-Haq.
More than 7000 families have benefitted from the Waseela-e-Haq Programme, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said the efforts of development partners and international community supported the government in bringing revolutionary changes in lives of deprived sections of society by continuing BISP.
He expressed the hope that the development partners would help in making BISP programme more effective and efficient.
 The Prime Minister said the government would ensure that the deserving families were provided health facilities under Waseela Sahet Programme.
He said the BISP was also providing financial assistance to the families of citizens affected by acts of terrorism and had started imparted training to one member of a needy family under its Waseela Rozgar Scheme, which would make people productive citizens of the society.
He assured the terrorism affected families that the government would stand by them in their hour of difficulty.
The Prime Minister mentioned poverty survey through which till now poor have been identified in 85 per cent area of the country.
The poverty survey is conducted according to international standards and with a poverty card, the poor and deprived sections will be provided assistance in a transparent and impartial manner and without any political discrimination, he added.
The Prime Minister said the government policy was to bring the backward areas at par with the developed areas of the country by providing them with basic amenities of life and bringing them into the national mainstream.
Poverty survey has been started in FATA and on its completion, the government can better formulate policies for the social sector, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani said the government would ensure that the national wealth was used for the welfare of people through direct assistance.
He mentioned the introduction of mobile phone banking and Benazir Smart Card for speedy and transparent transfer of money to female beneficiaries.
The Prime Minister instructed the Finance Ministry to devise a way to provide relief to poor families on electricity and gas bills.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Farzana Raja said the BISP distributed Rs 54 billion through opposition parties which proves that money is not distributed for political reasons.
She lauded the leadership qualities of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and said the government was committed to continue to reach out to the poor through targetted subsidies.
Farzana Raja said the BISP was the vision of Benazir Bhutto and it was part of the PPP’s manifesto to raise living standards of the poor.
She said leaders and workers of PPP would not let the blood of Benazir Bhutto go waste and would continue to follow in her footsteps.
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Secretariat of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah, Minister for Petroleum Dr. Asim Hussain, Minister for Textile Makhdoom Shahabuddin and members of parliament attended the ceremony.