Benazir Income Support Programme Reforms Urged
The Benazir Income Support Programme is a crucial component of Pakistan's social protection system, and the proposed reforms aim to enhance its effectiveness in reducing poverty. The integration of technology, such as geotagged banking services and biometric verification, is expected to improve access and efficiency, while the addressing of staffing shortfalls will help to ensure that the programme is implemented effectively.
Pakistan's National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety has called for urgent reforms to transition the country's social protection system to a fully transparent, technology-driven model, with a focus on the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to address the escalating poverty rate.
The committee expressed concern over delays in launching the digital banking pilot project, initially slated for June, and urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to launch it by the end of July. The pilot project aims to integrate geotagged banking services, simplify account opening, and biometric verification to improve access and efficiency. The committee also urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to integrate mobile data repositories to improve biometric reliability in remote areas.
Additionally, the committee noted that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has a staffing shortfall, with only 67% of sanctioned posts filled, and urged the programme to work closely with relevant ministries to address the issue. The committee emphasized the need for a more effective social protection system, particularly the BISP, to check poverty, and directed the transition of social protection mechanisms towards a more transparent, technology-driven system with minimal human intervention.
The committee concluded with a consensus to fast-track the digital pilot rollout while ensuring robust oversight, transparency, and protection of beneficiary rights. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety expressed concern over the country's escalating poverty rate, nearing 50%, and urged steps to reverse the trend.
The reforms aim to improve the efficiency and transparency of the social protection system, particularly the Benazir Income Support Programme, and address the staffing shortfall and other challenges facing the programme. The committee's recommendations are expected to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Pakistanis who rely on the social protection system for their livelihood.