Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is a social safety net program in Pakistan that provides quarterly cash transfers to eligible households living below thepoverty line. The program was introduced in 2008 by the government of Pakistan with the aim of reducing poverty and providing financial assistance to marginalized and underprivileged families.
The program is named after the late former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazirpoverty line. The program was initiated by the government of Pakistan in 2008 with the aim of reducing poverty and promoting social protection for the marginalized sections of society.
The program is named after the late Benazir Bhutto, who was a former Prime Minister of Pakistan and a strong advocate for poverty reduction and social welfare programs. The BISP is managed by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and operates across all provinces of Pakistan.
Under the program, eligible households receive cash transfers of varying amounts based on their income and family size. The transfers aim to provide basic support for food, health, and education expenses. In addition, the program also offers vocational training, health insurance, and other support services to participants to help them improve their livelihoods.
The BISP has been instrumental in reducing poverty and improving social protection in Pakistan, with over 8 million households enrolled in the program. However, there have been criticisms of the program's effectiveness in reducing poverty, as it only provides short-term relief and does not address the underlying structural issues that perpetuate poverty in the country.