Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee Reviews Social Safety Programs

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Islamabad: On September 30, 2024, the Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety convened its fourth meeting at the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Headquarters to discuss and enhance the country’s social safety nets. The session, chaired by Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, focused on scrutinizing budget allocations and operational challenges within major social welfare programs.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the committee engaged in a thorough review of the budgetary provisions for the financial year 2024-25, presented by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety (PA and SS) and BISP. Concerns were raised about the efficiency of funds utilization from previous allocations, prompting directives for the Ministry to develop a transparent and accountable expenditure roadmap.

The meeting addressed operational disruptions faced by BISP beneficiaries, particularly issues stemming from new banking contracts and Point of Sale (POS) devices. Problems such as malfunctioning devices and payment delays were discussed, with recommendations for BISP to conduct pilot tests and provide adequate training before implementing new systems.

Further discussions covered the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs, including educational grants and health stipends, which aim to reduce stunting and improve educational outcomes. The committee granted a thirty-day extension to a subcommittee formed to resolve registration and disbursement issues within BISP’s Benazir Kafaalat Program.

The meeting was attended by multiple members of the National Assembly, both in-person and virtually, along with senior officers from PA and SS, BISP, and representatives from Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) and Trust for Voluntary Organization (TVO). The committee’s efforts underscore a concerted push to refine the execution of social safety measures critical to supporting Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations.

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