PESHAWAR, AUG 11 (APP): Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, has announced the implementation of a new banking system to streamline the disbursement of funds to eligible women.

She said that the system involves engaging the services of six banks to minimize human intervention and ensure that beneficiaries receive their money efficiently. She said the scope of BIS Program is being expanded in accordance with the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari.

She said that the transparency of BISP has been recognized by international organizations including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank under which around 9.3 million deserving families are benefiting. “Our aim is that deserving women receive their money with dignity and respect without any deductions”, she said while talking to media during her visit to Mardan district.

Senator Rubina Khalid visited the offices of BISP in Mardan and Takht Bhai where she directly interacted with the deserving women and heard their problems. She also reviewed the registration process of the deserving women and directed the staff to guide the elderly women with dignity and respect.

She instructed the women to come to BISP offices to collect the money only after receiving a message from 8171.

Senator Rubina Khalid also planted a sapling on the premises of District Office Mardan under the Benazir Plantation Campaign titled “Sarsabz Pakistan, Benazir Pakistan” and prayed for the prosperity of the country.

While addressing a gathering of women gathered for registration in the BISP Center, Rubina Khalid said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto laid the foundation of this program while in exile in Dubai aimed at economic empowerment of poor women of Pakistan, which was implemented by President Asif Ali Zardari in 2008.

She told the women that there is no fee to participate in the BISP survey adding that dynamic registry centers have been set up in the tehsil offices for enrollment in the programme. She directed the women to complete the basic documents for joining the survey so that they do not face any problems.

Addressing a public gathering at Gulli Bagh in the outskirts of Mardan, Senator Rubina Khalid said, “we provide educational scholarships to the children of deserving families under Benazir Taleemi Wazaif  Program, in which more scholarships are earmarked for the education of girls”. Under Benazir Nashonuma, pregnant women and their children are provided with scholarships and nutritious food, he added.

She said that a unique skill program “Benazir Hunar Program” is being launched for deserving women and their family members to reduce the poverty of these families.

Senator Rubina Khalid said that the impression regarding the program is wrong that people are being turned into beggars. She added that the BISP is providing additional financial support to reduce the financial difficulties of poor families.