BISP to reach five million deserving families this year.

ISLAMABAD, November 19, 2009 (Balochistan Times): Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is estimating to provide financial assistance to five million deserving families this year. This was stated by Federal Minister and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Farzana Raja during a meeting with Member German Federal Parliament Marieluis Beck. BISP is playing vital role in alleviating poverty from the country and 2.2 million families have been provided financial assistance through the programme. Besides, deserving families, terrorism and bomb blasts affectees and IDPs are being provided assistance, she said. Farzana said that through BISP, for the first time in the history of the country, poverty census is being conducted. About regional situation in the country, she said that an unstable Afghanistan has negative impact on the stability of Pakistan. She said that a stable Afghanistan guarantees peace not only to Pakistan but also entire South Asia. She termed poverty as basic reason for terrorism and the government can only counter terrorism by alleviating poverty. The government is working on a three-point strategy for relief, settlement and development of IDPs. After the operation, the provision of political and economic rights to the people will be ensured, she added. She said that in the same way, the elected government has given Gilgit-Baltistan thus providing political and economic rights to them. Marieluis Beck, on the occasion, said Pakistan is geo-politically a very important country. Germany and Pakistan have signed more than 50 agreements of various natures. She said that Germany appreciates Pakistans role in the war against terrorism and emphasized the need for development work in the areas affected by terrorist attacks and appreciated BISP. German Ambassador Dr. Michael Koch was also present in the meeting.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)