Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was initiated by Government of Pakistan with initial allocation of Rs.34 billion (US $ 425 million approximately) for the financial year 2008-09.
In financial year 2007-08, the sharp rise in oil prices and primary products in the international as well as domestic market resulted in double digit inflation, which almost halved the purchasing power of the people. Hence, there was an urgent need for direct and speedy relief to the underprivileged sections of the society and BISP is the response to the said compulsions.
The Programme aimed at covering 3.5 million families in the financial year 2008-2009.
The allocation for the last fiscal year was Rs. 70 billion to provide cash assistance to 5 million families which constitutes almost 15% of the entire population. Thus the programme aims at covering almost 40% of the population below the poverty line allocation for the CFY is 50 Billion.
The enrolled families are paid cash assistance of Rs.1000 per month at their doorsteps.
A monthly payment of Rs.1000/ per family would enhance the income of a family earning Rs.5000 by 20%.
BISP is being implemented in all four provinces (Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa) including Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Islamabad Capital Territory(ICT).
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