BISP DG Naveed Akbar Interview with Waseem Abbasi

DG Naveed Akbar Interview, who is working to eliminate poverty in Pakistan. He has been with BISP since its inception. The interview answers all your questions about BISP. The interviewer is Waseem Abbasi from We News.

The talk is not only informative but also very interesting. The questions are from Waseem Abbasi and the answers are from Naveed Akbar. After reading this, you will understand the importance of BISP. The interview also discusses the budget and algorithms of BISP.

How many families are enrolled in BISP?

BISP is a programme to help people with a poverty score below 32. Currently, we provide quarterly BISP wazaif to almost 9.3 million families. This aid consists of different types of support: one for children’s education, one linked to health and nutrition, and one as unconditional cash. We select women from the family because we believe they can better manage the financial help.

families enrolled in BISP

If you are eligible, you should enrol in the BISP programme, especially Benazir Taleemi Wazaif.

BISP Budget

What is the yearly budget of BISP?

The yearly budget of BISP is 47.1 trillion rupees, a substantial amount. Eliminating poverty isn’t achievable in a few days or with just a few interventions or programmes. To overcome poverty, economic growth and opportunities for poor people to participate are essential. BISP helps poor families manage their expenses by filling the gap between their income and spending.

For instance, if someone earns 25,000 rupees but their expenses are 28,000 or 30,000 rupees, they have a gap that they fill with loans. The Benazir Income Support Programme assists in filling this gap. However, BISP wazaif alone cannot overcome poverty; it takes time. If we don’t help poor people, they will fall further below the poverty line.

How does BISP contribute local economy?

BISP money not only benefits women in our program but also boosts the local economy. When a woman receives money from BISP, she spends it at local stores, stimulating economic activity. The Local economy will increase employment and reduce poverty in Pakistan.

People often suggest that the money could be used to create jobs or teach useful skills to poor people. However, if a person doesn’t have enough food, they may not be interested in learning skills. The priority should be to fulfil the basic food needs of poor families. Fortunately, there are many skill-training programs already operating and continuing in our country.

Is BISP making people beggars?

Many people accuse us of making people beggars, but these critics often haven’t experienced hunger themselves. Many of our beneficiaries struggle to afford three meals a day. The women who come and wait in difficult conditions can attest to the importance of this grant.

In our country, subsidies on electricity, gas, and petrol often don’t benefit the poor. The cash we provide directly to people serves as a direct subsidy, making a real difference in their lives. We should focus on the benefits of BISP rather than the negative talk by critics.

The first interaction with beneficiaries

I remember my first interaction with BISP beneficiaries back in 2008. It was during an opening ceremony where we were distributing money. Many women were present, and we gave 2000 rupees to each woman. We noticed that after collecting the money, they were talking to each other.

When we asked, they said they thought the money wasn’t real because they were unfamiliar with the 1000 rupee note. They said they were used to the red 100 rupee note. We explained to them that the 1000 rupee note was equivalent to ten 100 rupee notes.

DG Naveed Akbar

From the start to now, we have met many poor families. This programme really helps them manage their expenses. Read family reviews on BISP and school feedback on Benazir Taleemi Wazaif.

How many people enrolled are really poor?

Every program has its weaknesses, and no data collection method is 100% accurate. Some people may hide the truth or misreport information. At BISP, we not only collect data but also conduct third-party verification on a sample basis.

Based on the third-party results, we find that 93% to 95% of beneficiaries are indeed poor. The remaining 5% may not be as poor but still have some level of need. It’s estimated that there’s a vulnerability of 15% to 20% in every similar program worldwide. Despite its flaws, our program is much better targeted than some untargeted programs.

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