Pakistan Considers Transferring BISP to Provinces

ISLAMABAD — The federal government is seriously considering transferring the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to provincial governments, a senior minister confirmed on Saturday.
Speaking to a private television channel, Federal Minister Daas Kohstani said that following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which devolved significant powers to the provinces, financial assistance for the poor should also be administered at the provincial level.
The minister noted that several provinces have already raised this demand. However, he emphasised that no final decision would be made without consultation with coalition partners and political stakeholders.
Kohstani also clarified that there are no plans to abolish BISP altogether, stating that the programme will continue in one form or another to support Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens.
BISP, established in 2008, currently provides cash transfers to millions of low-income families across the country and is one of Pakistan’s largest social safety net programmes.