ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety was informed on Friday that since 2011, no prominent recruitment has been made in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), making the department understaffed, which causes a delay in its operations.
The meeting of the Senate panel, chaired by Senator Sardar Al Haj Muhammad Umer Gorgaij at the Parliament House, was told that 50 per cent of the staff working in BISP were currently on deputation
It was informed that the recruitment process was initiated by BISP which was stopped on the directions of Finance Division in the wake of austerity measures of the government. To this effect, the committee recommended that the matter may be taken up with the Finance Division in its forthcoming meeting.
Regarding the issue of limited funds of BISP for the province of Balochistan, the committee strongly recommended that the volume of funds may be enhanced.
The committee was informed that the programme aims to train individuals and send them abroad, keeping in view the growing demand for skilled workers internationally.
The committee was told that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between BISP and National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) in this regard. It was clarified that BISP did not provide direct funding to NAVTTC and BISP, and only monitors the programme and issue certificates. The Bait-ul-Mal (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was considered and thoroughly deliberated by the committee, following which it passed the bill unanimously.
The committee also sought details of all the projects under Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). It was also briefed on the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, wherein its key components, progress, achievements and the operational framework of its partnership were highlighted.
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