It seems income support programmes are like a lottery ticket that the government bestows on the fortunate few.
Salima, a 60-year-old Christian widow, carefully pulls out a crumpled token from a worn-down zipped pouch. It’s nothing more than a small square of low-quality paper with a number scribbled on it, but she offers it hopefully. Working as a maid in two houses in Bath Island, Salima cannot make ends meet. Her rent alone comes to Rs9,000, substantially more than her humble monthly wages of Rs5,500.
With a valid CNIC, she has attempted to receive money from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) several times but is turned back each time empty-handed. With limited prowess in the Urdu language, she is unable to understand why she cannot receive the cash. But she carries the coupon around as proof that she is eligible, trusting that someone will be able to help her eventually.
By News DeskISLAMABAD: A day after claiming ‘V-shaped’ economic recovery, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf -led government on Friday unveiled Rs 8.4 trillion federal budget for the fiscal.
ISLAMABAD: The government provided billions of rupees as supplementary grant for repair of VVIP aircraft and helicopters of defence authorities and provincial governments to bear the cost of lost.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy recorded 3.94 per cent growth during the fiscal year 2020-21 defying low growth projections by the IMF and the World Bank, said Minister for Finance and Revenue.