ISLAMABAD: In a bold move aimed at expanding social support, Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, said on Wednesday the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) Individual Financial Assistance Programme limit has been increased from Rs1 million to Rs1.5 million.
Talking to reporters, after a visit to the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), the minister said the government was working to make the Financial Assistance Programme more effective, transparent, and targeted.
During his visit, he was briefed by NIRM Executive Director Dr Shaista Habibullah on the institute’s performance and the financial support provided by PBM to deserving patients.
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Shah inspected several departments, including the prosthetics laboratory, where artificial limbs and assistive devices are provided. He highlighted that from 2022 to 2025, around 2,267 patients at NIRM received treatment and rehabilitation through PBM, amounting to Rs278 million.
He said that priority financial assistance is being provided for major surgeries, prosthetic limbs, implants, hearing aids, and rehabilitation services.
He also revealed that PBM’s medical assistance budget had increased from Rs227 million in the previous fiscal year to Rs280 million in the current fiscal year.
He emphasized that all financial assistance is subject to case verification, medical assessment, and hospital validation.
The minister further announced plans to establish a PBM facilitation desk at NIRM, improve online case tracking, and implement a fully computerized administrative system.
He stressed that cases must be resolved within a month, with emergency cases processed on a fast-track basis. The minister praised the Benazir Income Support Programme’s Ramazan relief efforts, led by Secretary Amir Ahmed Ali, calling them both timely and impactful in addressing urgent needs during a critical period. He stated that the government remains committed to enhancing social protection programs.
He added that he plans to continue reviewing PBM initiatives with visits to other hospitals and universities across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to strengthen the social protection and medical assistance systems.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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