Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): Minister of State and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) MNA Marvi Memon called on Prime Minister Azad Jammu & Kashmir Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan on Thursday and discussed the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) survey and strengthening of BISP in AJK.
It was told on this occasion that currently, organizational coverage of BISP in AJK is spread over three divisions Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Poonch. In these divisions, there are 30 effective offices that are providing services to its 106,193 BISP beneficiaries.
The meeting held in the State’s capital town, was attended by Ch Tariq Farooq Senior Minister/ Minister for Housing, Physical Planning and Agriculture, Raja Nisar Ahmad Khan Minister for Law and Electricity, Dr. Najeeb Naqee Minister for Finance, Planning & Development, Raja Noreen Arif Minister for Social Welfare, Ch Muhammad Aziz Minister for Works, Barrister Iftikhar Gillani Minister for Education & MCDP, Sardar Farooq Sikander Minister for Revenue and officials of AJK government and BISP.
While briefing the PM of AJK, Memon said that the support of the AJK government would be pivotal for successful completion and absolute coverage of AJK population in NSER survey, as half million people live near Line of Control (LoC) under volatile security situation. She said that countrywide national roll out of survey for NSER would start after completion of the pilot phase. The new survey is technology enabled that would address the deficiencies of the previous survey of 2010-11 and make BISP the top social safety net worldwide in terms of targeting and selection.
PM Farooq Haider ensured that AJK government would fully support and facilitate the NSER survey teams keeping in view the difficult terrain and security situation of the area. He congratulated Chairperson on winning prestigious international awards. He said that by winning British Speaker’s Democracy Award and French National Order of Merit, she has brought honour to the country. The PM appreciated her concern for the Shuhada of cross LoC firing and thanked her for visiting their homes for condolence.
Chairperson BISP apprised the PM on the expansion of BISP Waseela-e-Taleem (WeT) to two more districts Neelum and Haveli in AJK. She said that enrollment that would start in March 2018 is expected to enroll 10,374 children in Neelum and 16,442 in Haveli. Currently 40,220 children are enrolled in AJK under WeT that includes 13,339 children in Bagh, 19,140 in Kotli and 7,741 children in Mirpur.
She added that BISP is processing the case for establishment of BISP Divisional Office in Muzaffarabad in addition to Regional Office and in order to facilitate the beneficiaries of the vicinity and support from the AJK government would be instrumental in this regard.
Earlier, the Chairperson BISP visited Regional Office Muzafarabad where she interacted with BISP officials and beneficiaries. She listened to their concerns and directed BISP staff to resolve them at the earliest. She also visited BISP beneficiary Parveena Bibi at her home in Manuak Payian Muhajar Camp. Parveena Bibi is benefiting from the E-Commerce initiative of BISP by making and selling traditional shawls. Chairperson encouraged her and said that the women by realizing their potential not only change their lives but contribute towards the progress of the country as well.
