Latest news with #BenazirIncomeSupportProgram
Express Tribune
07-05-2025
- Express Tribune
BISP director acts on illegal deductions complaints
Following numerous complaints of illegal deductions from Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) payments to eligible women, the Director of BISP Thatta district, Jaffar Hussain Panhwar, conducted surprise inspections of distribution centers, including in Makli. During the operation, authorities blocked over six devices used by individuals involved in these illegal deductions. Speaking to the media, Director Panhwar stated that the government has disbursed Rs13,500 each to over 80,000 deserving women in the district, establishing various distribution points for easy access to funds.
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Energy poverty and flawed subsidy mechanism
Energy poverty is a critical challenge that leaves millions of households unable to secure essential services such as cooking, heating, cooling, and lighting at an affordable cost. While global discussions on energy access have intensified, Pakistan remains far behind, struggling not only with affordability but also with the fundamental issue of access. According to the European Commission Advisory Hub, energy poverty rates in Europe surged from 6.9% in 2021 to 10.6% in 2023, meaning over one in ten households now struggles to meet basic energy needs. If these figures are alarming for developed nations, the situation in Pakistan is even more dire. Beyond affordability, Pakistan lacks accurate data on electricity and clean cooking fuel access, making it difficult to design effective interventions. Pakistan's energy subsidy framework is deeply flawed, as it benefits only those connected to the main grid, either electricity or gas, while completely neglecting millions living in off-grid areas. The current model is akin to defining poverty solely by income, overlooking those with no income at all. This creates a huge gap in support. It is like trying to fight poverty by only helping people who already have some money, and forgetting about those who have nothing at all. This limited approach keeps inequality alive and fails to solve the real problem, making sure everyone, no matter where they live, has access to affordable and reliable energy. In remote areas disconnected from the SSGC/SNGPL network, households rely on expensive LPG or wood for cooking, often spending more than urban consumers who have greater affordability. Yet, subsidy structures ignore this disparity, reinforcing energy poverty rather than alleviating it. Several well-intentioned experts have proposed linking energy subsidies to the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), assuming that energy poverty and income poverty are interchangeable. However, energy poverty is not just about financial constraints; it is about access, consumption patterns, and regional climatic differences. Treating energy poverty as a mere extension of income disparity risks further alienating vulnerable communities rather than empowering them. Instead, policymakers must recognize that tackling energy poverty requires a multi-sectoral approach, integrating social policies rather than relying solely on energy policies. Ensuring affordable energy access is crucial, but sustainable solutions demand collaboration across housing, infrastructure, and finance sectors. This means improving living conditions through better building insulation, expanding public transportation that relies on clean energy, offering financial support for energy-efficient appliances, and designing inclusive housing and utility subsidy programs. True energy security is not just about the supply of electricity; it is about empowering communities with the tools and support to access, afford, and benefit from it. Without addressing these interconnected sectors, efforts to eliminate energy poverty will remain fragmented and ineffective. Energy poverty stems from a complex interplay of factors, including high energy costs relative to household income. The rising cost of living, stagnant wages, and inflation in essential goods have exacerbated the crisis. Vulnerable groups, including unemployed individuals, pensioners, and single-parent families, face disproportionate financial strain. Additionally, poor energy efficiency compounds the problem. Most buildings in Pakistan are energy-inefficient, leading to excessive energy consumption for heating and cooling. Many low-income households reside in outdated structures with inadequate insulation and inefficient appliances, making energy-saving measures nearly impossible. Despite global advancements, Pakistan faces several barriers to overcoming energy poverty: Short-term vs. Long-term Interventions: While direct subsidies offer immediate relief, they fail to address structural inefficiencies in energy systems and infrastructure. Limited Access to Subsidies: Many vulnerable households are unaware of available support or face bureaucratic challenges in accessing aid. Policy Fragmen-tation: Incoherent policies across provinces hinder the implementation of effective solutions tailored to local conditions. Tackling energy poverty requires a dual approach; offering immediate relief while investing in long-term solutions. Financial aid, such as targeted subsidies and social tariffs (A social tariff is a subsidized pricing mechanism where certain eligible consumers, such as those with limited income, the elderly, or other marginalized groups, pay reduced rates for basic utility services.), is essential for short-term support. However, without investments in new infrastructure for accessibility and energy efficiency, home insulation, modern cooling and heating systems, and efficient appliances, energy costs will remain unsustainable. A just energy transition must also include policies that provide alternatives to utility disconnections, ensuring that struggling households retain access to essential energy services. Consumer awareness programs and tailored advice can enhance the adoption of energy-saving measures. While addressing energy poverty is critical, the goal must go beyond just alleviating hardship, it is about building energy equity, where every household has fair, reliable, and affordable access to clean energy. Energy equity, ensuring the fair distribution of resources and subsidies, is just as crucial as addressing energy poverty. Without equity-focused policies, subsidies will continue benefiting grid-connected, wealthier households, leaving marginalized communities to bear the brunt of high tariffs and inefficient supply chains. A national energy equity framework should guide policies to ensure clean, affordable, and reliable energy access for all, particularly underserved communities. This framework must prioritize inclusive decision-making, equitable resource distribution, and community-driven initiatives. Addressing energy poverty without focusing on energy equity will yield limited progress. Pakistan must first define energy poverty, conduct thorough research, and design a proper subsidy framework aligned with energy equity principles. Only by integrating these elements into long-term policies can Pakistan ensure universal access to clean and affordable energy, not as a privilege, but as a fundamental right. (Engineer Abubakar Ismail is an expert in the energy sector. With a passion for energy, sustainability, and emerging technologies. He can be approached at [email protected]. Muhammad Kamil Qaddus is an EDF Climate Corps fellow and an energy policy practitioner. He can be reached at [email protected]) Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
K-P govt adds major transplants in Sehat Card programme
Listen to article The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to include the treatment of three major transplant procedures — kidney, liver, and bone marrow — under its Sehat Card Plus programme. Additionally, the cost of cochlear implants will also be fully covered by the government. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of K-P. Provincial Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the government would now provide transplant and implant services completely free of cost, marking a major expansion of the health insurance scheme. 'This is another revolutionary step in line with the founding chairman's vision,' stated Barrister Saif, referring to the PTI's healthcare reforms. He added that services under this programme would be accessible to eligible citizens without any financial burden. The provincial health department has been instructed to implement these changes immediately. The government also plans to soon include rehabilitation services for drug-addicted individuals under the Sehat Card. In a parallel development, the K-P government approved regulations allowing the use of cannabis plants for medical, research, and industrial purposes. Earlier, K-P government launched free Outpatient Department (OPD) services under the Sehat Card Plus scheme. The initiative was officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur during a ceremony held at the Chief Minister House. The OPD scheme began as a pilot project in the Mardan district, where it was initially rolled out to benefit 50,000 deserving households. The project was expected to expand in the second phase to Chitral, Malakand, and Kohat districts, eventually reaching around 120,000 deserving households in these areas, based on data from the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Ramazan programme repeats mistakes
Although the spirit of Ramadan encourages people to extend a helping hand to those surviving on the margins of society, state-sponsored welfare initiatives cannot be run simply on the magnanimity of the incumbent leaders, without a pragmatic consideration of their associated costs and benefits. This year, the Punjab government has allocated Rs30 billion for the Nigahban Ramadan Program. Unlike the preceding years, when ration bags would be distributed, this year the government has decided to grant cash transfers to underprivileged families, who will receive the money through pay orders. Although the program promises monetary assistance of Rs10,000 to 3 million families, critics believe that several loopholes in the program will ultimately prevent the welfare funds from reaching deserving households. Dr Aslam Qais, an economist, revealed that the Punjab government had appointed the Bank of Punjab for distributing money to the deserving families, but no one knew from where the bank would arrange these funds. "The example of the past is before us. The names of the families of big bureaucrats were included in the Benazir Income Support Program, so why has the same method been adopted again. In every government, some people become rich under the guise of the poor," said Dr Qais. Recent reports support Dr Qais's concerns, with financial irregularities amounting to a staggering Rs141 billion uncovered in BISP for the fiscal year 2023-24. As per the claims of the report, more than 3 million out of 9.3 million beneficiaries did not have a registered family CNIC while payments totaling over Rs116.95 billion were made without verification to government employees, businesspersons, and other ineligible individuals. Critics have expressed similar doubts over the feasibility of the Nigahban Ramadan Program, the latest white elephant of the Punjab government, under which the Bank of Punjab will be paid Rs519 million while Pakistan Post will be paid Rs825 million as service charges for the dispatching of pay orders. Renowned forensic auditor, Kokab Jamal Zuberi opined that although disbursing money through pay orders was a better practice than distributing rations, there was also a possibility of fraud and registration of ghost individuals, as was seen in BISP. "Apart from this, it is also not clear whether the huge amount of Rs30 billion that is being distributed to deserving families is being paid from loans obtained from other countries or from the Zakat and Ushr funds," expressed Zuberi. Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Lahore's President, Imtiaz Sheikh lambasted the Punjab government's decision to offer cash transfers. "Last year, they distributed ration bags by putting up pictures of Nawaz Sharif and barely 15 per cent of the deserving people could get them. The same will happen again since they have not yet been able to finalize the data due to which some mismanagement is expected," predicted Sheikh. On the other hand, Salma Butt, Assistant to the Chief Minister of Punjab for Price Control and Accommodations Management, disclosed that last year, several loopholes were discovered in the process of distributing ration bags during Ramadan. "This year, families can either get this money after depositing the pay order in their bank accounts or they can contact any bank agent in their area. The aim of this move is to ensure transparency," claimed Butt. Disagreeing with Butt, Dr Qais believed that the best way to provide relief to the people during Ramadan was to abolish sales tax on a few basic food items including ghee, sugar, and flour. "This will reduce prices and everyone will get relief," he concluded.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Nigahban Ramadan Program repeats past mistakes
The Nigahban Ramadan program, with a budget of Rs30 billion, has been announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for disbursing money to low-income families. Under the program, the Punjab Bank will be paid Rs519 million while Pakistan Post will be paid Rs825 million as service charges. The Price Control and Accommodations Management has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the program. Up to 3 million families have been promised cash transfers worth Rs10,000. One such beneficiary, Khurshid Bibi, a resident of Gulshan Colony, was over the moon when she received a pay order of Rs10,000 from the Punjab government under the Nigahban Ramadan package alongside a letter from the Chief Minister. In the letter, she was instructed to withdraw the money after depositing this pay order in her bank account and in case she does not have a bank account, she could get the money through biometrics by showing her national identity card at any nearby bank agent. While Khurshid Bibi was lucky to receive her promised welfare, there are hundreds of families who are still unsure whether or not they will be able to get the cash transfers. This year, the Punjab government is issuing cash transfers instead of ration bags to underprivileged families across the province, who will receive the money through pay orders. Reportedly, Pakistan Post will deliver pay orders to 500,000 families daily and the entire process will be completed by the 20th of Ramadan. Renowned forensic auditor, Kokab Jamal Zuberi opined that although disbursing money through pay orders was a better practice than distributing rations, there was also a possibility of fraud and registration of ghost individuals, as was seen in the Benazir Income Support Program. "Apart from this, it is also not clear whether the huge amount of Rs30 billion that is being distributed to deserving families is being paid from loans obtained from other countries or from the Zakat and Ushr funds,' expressed Zuberi. Dr Aslam Qais, an economist revealed that the Punjab government had appointed the Bank of Punjab for distributing money to the deserving families, but no one knew from where the bank would arrange these funds. 'The example of the past is before us. The names of the families of big bureaucrats were included in the Benazir Income Support Program, so why has the same method been adopted again. In every government, some people become rich under the guise of the poor. Therefore, the best way to provide relief to the people during Ramadan is to abolish sales tax on a few basic items including ghee, sugar, flour, and petrol. This will reduce prices and everyone will get relief,' said Dr Qais. Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Lahore's President, Imtiaz Sheikh lambasted the Punjab government's decision to offer cash transfers. 'Last year, they distributed ration bags by putting up pictures of Nawaz Sharif and barely 15 per cent of the deserving people could get them. The same will happen again since they have not yet been able to finalize the data due to which some mismanagement is expected,' predicted Sheikh. On the other hand, Salma Butt, Assistant to the Chief Minister of Punjab for Price Control and Accommodations Management, disclosed that last year, several shortcomings were discovered in the process of distributing rations during Ramadan. 'Therefore, instead of ration bags, Rs10,000 are being given to 3 million deserving families. Families who have bank accounts can get this money after depositing the pay order in their bank accounts, while families who do not have bank accounts can receive the money from any bank agent in their area. The aim of this move is to ensure transparency,' claimed Butt.
