ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) here on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) in its endeavour to further strengthen its accountability mechanisms.
According to the agreement, Transparency International will provide oversight and expertise for BISP's procurement processes to ensure integration of international standards and compliance with rules of Government of Pakistan, said a news release.
Transparency International will also ensure redressal of grievances and complaints regarding BISP procurement.
The MoU was signed by Sohail Muzaffar, Chairman, Transparency International Pakistan and Muhamamd Sher Khan, Secretary, BISP in the presence of Madame Farzana Raja, Federal Minister and Chairperson, BISP.
Sohail Muzaffar welcomed BISP's decision and said they are grateful to the Chairperson BISP for taking them onboard.
He said, "It shows government's commitment for transparent systems. I hope that BISP will continue to work for the betterment of the people of Pakistan."
Speaking on the occasion, Farzana Raja said that during past four years of serving poor, BISP has maintained and ensured transparency and accountability on every level.
To further enhance the integrity, BISP is taking a credible institution like Transparency International on board as an autonomous monitor of BISP's procurement processes, she stated.
BISP is like an open book and this agreement will further strengthen people's confidence in BISP. It already has transparent system in place which include technology based solutions, internal and external accountability mechanisms and third party evaluations, the chairperson said.
She further said, "BISP has completed poverty census in five agencies of FATA including Muhammad Agency, Khyber Agency, Bajor Agency, Kurram Agency and Orakzai Agency and more than 170,000 families are benefitting from BISP interventions in FATA".
Also for the first time in Pakistan, BISP has launched health insurance programme for poor, she informed.
Farzana Raja said initially 90,000 families have been included in health insurance programme in Faisalabad in its pilot phase while the programme will soon be rolled out nationwide.
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