KARACHI: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid has asserted that financial assistance provided under the programme is not charity but the rightful entitlement of deserving families.
More than 60 million people benefit from its various initiatives across the country, she noted.
According to an official statement here, BISP Chief while speaking to the media at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office during her visit to Badin, said BISP was working transparently under regular monitoring in line with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
She said the Benazir Hunarmand Programme would provide technical and vocational training to members of beneficiary families, particularly women and young people, in line with market requirements, enabling them to secure better employment opportunities and achieve economic independence.
Senator Rubina Khalid said more than 12 million children are benefiting from the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme, while 2.2 million women are being supported under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme.
Highlighting the programme’s role in promoting women’s empowerment, she said BISP had encouraged many women across the country, including in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to obtain Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and register for financial assistance. She described the CNIC as a great gift to the people from Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Referring to criticism of BISP, she said the programme maintained transparency and accountability through regular oversight, while some organisations and political parties criticising it lacked proper audit and accountability mechanisms for their own fundraising activities.
Explaining the digital wallet system, the BISP chairperson said interoperability through 1LINK would allow women to withdraw their payments from authorised retailers of participating banks anywhere in the country, rather than being restricted to a particular bank or geographical area. The initiative would improve transparency, convenience and financial inclusion, she added.
Earlier, Senator Khalid met women representatives of civil society and local elected representatives, listened to their complaints and suggestions, and briefed them on various BISP initiatives.
She directed the relevant officials to address the concerns raised on a priority basis.
MPAs Haji Taj Muhammad Mallah, Mir Allah Bakhsh Talpur, Arbab Amanullah, Tanzila Umm Habiba Qambrani, and Bibi Yasmeen Shah; Additional Deputy Commissioner Kashif Raza Mangi; District Information Officer Sarfaraz Samoon; and representatives of civil society and local government also attended.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026