Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, informed the National Assembly that the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety is actively working to support vulnerable and underprivileged segments of society through a range of social protection initiatives.
The Minister stated that Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal was established in 1991, while the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was launched in 2008. He said the government is committed to enhancing transparency and improving service delivery across all social protection programmes.
Highlighting measures taken for Balochistan, he noted that the PMT score eligibility threshold for BISP in the province has been increased from 32 to 60 to extend support to more deserving households. He added that 17 out of BISP’s 25 mobile registration vans have been deployed in Balochistan. More than 1,000 Dynamic Registration Centres are operational across the country, including 160 centres and offices in Balochistan.
The Minister further informed the House that over 100 of the 568 Nashonuma Facilitation Centres are located in Balochistan. Under Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, scholarships are being provided through 73 educational institutions nationwide, including 21 institutions in Balochistan.
Syed Imran Ahmed Shah said that, on the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, both BISP and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal have been digitized. Financial assistance will be disbursed through digital wallets, a move aimed at enhancing transparency and eliminating deductions and payment-related complaints.
He stated that BISP’s Kafaalat, Educational Stipends and Youth Programmes are being implemented successfully, while nearly 40,000 young people are currently receiving training under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme.
The Minister clarified that the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) does not receive direct funding from the Government of Pakistan and is therefore not a burden on the national exchequer.
He further noted that Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s scholarship and medical assistance services are available online, enabling deserving students and patients across the country to apply with ease.
Reaffirming the government's commitment to poverty reduction and social protection, the Minister said efforts are underway to further strengthen digital systems and ensure transparent, efficient and accessible service delivery for deserving citizens.
