Rs598.718bn allocated for BISP in FY25

ISLAMABAD: In the annual budget for financial year 2024-25, the government has allocated Rs598.718 billion for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Out of total allocated amount, Rs1.064bn would be used for purchasing assets, Rs6.235bn for employees, administration and administrative expenses and Rs225 million would be spent for media communication.

According to the documents, Rs2.744 billion have been earmarked for the NSER survey project, Rs4.083bn for direct transfer of cash to the beneficiaries, Rs461.063bn have been allocated for Benazir Kifalat programme, Rs77.181bn for Benazir educational scholarships, Rs42.142bn for Benazir Nashonuma programme, Rs1.706bn for BISP scholarship programme, Rs1bn for skills development programme to reduce poverty, Rs799 million for hybrid social protection scheme, Rs443 million for services payments and Rs35 million have been earmarked for PRU expenses.

During the previous financial year, total allocation for the BISP was Rs471.090bn. Out of the allocated amount, Rs358.030bn were spent on Benazir Kifalat programme, Rs1.827 billion on the Prime Minister’s Ramazan relief package, Rs59.716bn on educational scholarships, Rs34.665bn on Nashonuma programme, Rs1 million on the employment programme, Rs4.090bn on scholarships programme and Rs22m were spent on media communication.

According to the report, Rs3.180bn were spent on NSER survey project, Rs3.426bn on cash transfer and Rs5.1bn on employees and administrative matters. Assets were purchased with Rs65 million.

According to sources, 0.85pc of the total budget was allocated to banks last year, while this financial year, banks would be paid over Rs3 billion at the rate of 0.45pc as service charges.

Due to the improvement of the financial position this financial year, one million beneficiaries would be excluded from the programme through a survey, while another seven lakh beneficiaries would be included in the programme.