ISLAMABAD: The government has announced an increase of Rs45 per month in stipend of the beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

The finance ministry said on Saturday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the increase from Rs18,800 to Rs19,338 per annum. The decision follows a meeting that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had with the prime minister.

Mr Dar expressed the hope that the decision would contribute to mitigating the effect of inflation on the BISP beneficiaries.

The stipend at the enhanced rate of Rs4,834 per head per quarter would be payable from July 1, 2016 and arrears would be paid along with the next instalment, said the minister.

The finance division has issued instructions to the BISP to ensure disbursement of quarterly stipend at the enhanced rate.

Published in Dawn October 2nd, 2016