AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi, January 07, 2013 (PPI-OT): President for expanding BISP while launching more initiatives; Says BISP gained acceptability and recognition not only at national level but also at the international forums due to its objectivity, fairness, outreach and effectiveness.
The philosophy of Pakistan People’s Party is to serve the people of Pakistan indiscriminately; BISP is the brain child of President Asif Ali Zardari who is completing the mission of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto: Madame Farzana Raja
BISP’s Waseela-e-Haq Balloting and Waseela-e-Rozgar Certificates Distribution Ceremony held at Bilawal House
President Asif Ali Zardari today tasked BISP to make plans for overseas employment for 1.5 lac youth which it plans to train in different trades and vocations, in consultation with the Ministries of Overseas Pakistanis and Foreign Affairs. He also asked Ms. Farzana Raza, Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program, to expand the BISP to cover not only more areas in the country but also to launch new initiatives under its umbrella.
This he said while addressing the graduating ceremony of Waseela-e-Rozgar scheme of Benazir Income Support Program whereby 10,000 youth have been equipped with vocational skills to enable them making their own livings in a respected and honoured manner.
The ceremony was held at Bilawal House Karachi today and was attended among others by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Ms. Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians and others besides the beneficiaries of Waseela-e-Rozgar scheme.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion the President congratulated the boys and the girls who had completed training in different trades. He said that the skills acquired by them will help them earn decent living and become productive citizens. The President said that this was part of the strategy of the Government to provide jobs to the people and to take the poor people out from the generational poverty traps.
Complimenting Chairperson BISP Ms. Farzana Raja, the Board Member of the Program and all other involved with the Program, the President said that every system and all programs take time to fully develop. He said that BISP also has developed into a comprehensive social safety net with the flux of time.
He said that it was the flagship program of the Government for reducing poverty and empowering women. The President said that we all are very proud of the way in which the Program has progressed and is becoming a comprehensive social safety net.
It has attracted worldwide appreciation for its transparency, objectivity and efficiency, the President continued. He said that reaching over 7 million families in a short span of four years is indeed a major achievement and felicitated the Chairperson BISP and all those who have made it a success story.
The President said that it was very rare that a program which was designed locally keeping in view the indigenous requirements of the population has gained acceptability and recognition not only at national level but also at the international forums due to its objectivity, fairness, outreach and effectiveness.
He said that BISP has achieved significant progress in reaching out to the poorest of the poor and extricating people from generational traps of poverty, however, in view of the booming population much more needs to be done as the program has a great scope to be further expanded and strengthened.
The President said that Benazir Income Support Programme was a realization of the dream of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He said that our Shaheed leaders continue to guide us to make Pakistan a truly welfare State.
According to the prepared text of his speech, the President on this occasion also thanked the international community and partners for their help and support. Their support, he said, has enabled us to bring about a revolutionary change in the lives of the poor and dispossessed.
The President said that he was personally monitoring the progress of the Poverty Scorecard Survey and other initiatives of the BISP. He expressed satisfaction that the national roll out of the survey was progressing well. He said that it is a countrywide program and has already been completed in Balochistan. The President said that the poverty score card was a transparent and impartial survey of the poor through an internationally recognized procedure.
The President said that we will ensure that public money is transparently utilized for the welfare of the most deserving. For this purpose, he said, the BISP has introduced the Mobile phone banking. He expressed satisfaction that Benazir Smart Card based payment system has made good progress in a number of districts.
The mobile phone banking, he said, will make payments to the BISP family even easier. Noting the commencement of Life Insurance under Waseela e Sehet scheme, the President urged BISP team to also implement the Health protection services for its beneficiaries at the earliest all over the country.
The President said that the Vocational training program will go a long way in helping the poorest of the poor come out of poverty trap. He said that with the addition of Waseela-e-Taleem to BISP’s initiatives, now every poor can fulfill the dream of sending his children to school and become better, responsible and self reliant citizens of Pakistan.
The President said that the addition of free social services like health, accident insurance, vocational training and interest free financing for self employment will Insh Allah make the BISP the most productive initiative of this Government.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress made so far by “Waseela-e-Haq” scheme, the President said that provision of interest free financing is meant to help the BISP beneficiaries to start their own businesses. Giving to the poor what is their due is the best was to pay tribute to Shaheed Bibi today, the President said in his speech.
He said that keeping the promises of Bibi Shaheed, our sisters from BISP family will get cash assistance for setting up their own business for earning livelihood. These benefits, will Inshallah, be passed on to all beneficiaries very soon, said the President.
The President also complimented BISP for playing commendable role in providing relief to the flood victims. The President on this occasion said that ‘my advice today to the people of Pakistan is to have faith and hope in their future.’ He said that peoples’ welfare and improving their lot is our foremost priority.
Urging BISP for speedy implementation of all the initiatives under its umbrella, the President remarked that the children going without proper nutrition, basic education and health services and the families trapped in poverty cannot wait for long. He said that it is their right and all resources must be mobilized to complete the coverage of each and every deserving Pakistani family under the Programme.
He wished BISP all the success in its endeavours. Earlier the President also made another computerized draw of Waseela-e-Haq Program and distributed vocational training certificates among the beneficiary graduates of Waseela-e-Rozgar scheme.
Federal Minister and Chairperson BISP, Madame Farzana Raja while addressing the ceremony said that the philosophy of Pakistan People’s Party is to serve the people of Pakistan indiscriminately. We don’t believe in hollow slogans and serve the masses in real terms, she underlined.
Federal Minister said that BISP is the brain child of President Asif Ali Zardari who is completing the mission of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Madame Farzana Raja said that 10,000 youth has completed vocational and technical training under Waseela-e-Rozgar component of the Programme whereas 28,000 will complete by April this year.
The persistent support by international donor agencies is reflective of the transparency and efficiency of BISP, she added. Madame Farzana Raja said that by virtue of Waseela-e-Haq component, thousands of beneficiary families have been able to earn their living in most dignified manner and thus becoming self sufficient.
For more information, contact:
Surendar Valasai
Media Cell, Bilawal House
D-30, Block III, Clifton
Karachi, Pakistan
Tele: +92 21 3583 8102-3
Fax: +92 21 3537 1680-1
E-mail: info@mcbh.org.pk