All targets of donors met by BISP

The Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting to discuss Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) at the Ministry of Finance on Saturday.

Mr. Enver Baig, Chairman, BISP briefed the Finance Minister on various issued related to the programme. He informed that, so far, all the targets of the donors agencies have been met by BISP. The Chairman mentioned that he is holding conferences with the provincial heads and field officers of the BISP to meet targets set for them.

He informed the Minister that BISP has signed an MOU with KP-Chamber of Commerce for providing vocational training to 4500 recipients of the grant. Similarly, he has also signed an MOU with Korangi Association which has 4000 units and one million workers. The Association has assured the Chairman, that they will provide on job training and employment to the recipients of the BISP.

Moreover, he informed the Minister that multinational (MCR) which runs food outlets including Pizza Hut and Burger King is also willing to provide on job training and employment to the poor and needy. They have agreed to provide training to 100 beneficiaries of BISP per month free of charge, he informed the Minister. He also mentioned about an MOU with Daewoo company which will be signed next week for providing training as drivers, mechanic and transporting staff to the recipients to the BISP.  

Furthermore he informed that there is a job market for 2 million workers in the Gulf countries. He said that we are focusing on this massive potential in the construction field. He said that currently our manpower export to Gulf is 6,30,000 per year and we have around $11 billion of remittances from Gulf Countries. The Chairman claimed that we can double our manpower export to Gulf Countries in 12-24 months period and similarly, our remittances can reach up to $25 billion from the Gulf countries alone. He also informed that BISP is arranging a workshop of all UN Agencies, in next month, to collaborate and indentify areas where they can help in our plans.

The Finance Minister appreciated the commitment of the Chairman in making poor people stand on their feet. He emphasized that our focus should be on providing vocational training to them so that they can earn their living and we could reach to the other deserving people. Finance Minister reiterated that the programmes of BISP other than cash payment should be in sync with Prime Minister’s youth programme. He assured the Chairman of his continued support in this regard.