ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday approved the appointment of a senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Rubina Khalid as Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

He also accepted the resignation of Dr Amjad Saqib from his position as BISP chairperson, a press release issued by the President House said.

Dr Saqib was appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the post had fallen vacant after the departure of Dr Sania Nishtar.

The president approved the appointment under Section 5(3) of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Act 2010.

In the last Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government the position was retained by the PPP as its legislator Shazia Marri was made its chairperson.

After one year of assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the social safety network programme was launched after her name in 2008. BISP is considered as the largest and most systematic social protection initiative to be launched in Pakistan. Under the programme poor and needy people are given monetary support.

According to the BISP, the BISP board has approved record Rs471 billion budget for 2023-24 which included Rs361.5 billion for Benazir Kafaalat Programme, covering a total of 9.3 million families, Rs32.27 billion for Benazir Nashonuma Programme covering 1.5 million individuals, Rs55.4 billion for Benazir Taleemi Wazaif which would benefit 9.2 million children.

In addition, Rs6 billion have been earmarked for Benazir Scholarships for Undergraduates.

Senator Rubina Rauf Khalid hails from a noted and widely respected political family of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Her father late Syed Zafar Ali Shah had served as the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in 1985-88 and 1993-96.

A close confidant of former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, his legacy was carried out by his son Syed Zahir Shah who served in the provincial assemblies of 2002-2007 and 2008-2013 and also as Provincial Minister for Health from 2008 to 2013.

Rubina’s late Husband Rauf Khalid is fervently remembered an artiste par excellence and a noted writer. His services as a film maker, actor, writer and a cultural icon were recognised by the government of Pakistan by conferring upon him the highest civil award of Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

After Rauf Khalid’s tragic death in 2010, Rubina ventured into practical and political field. She was awarded senate ticket from KP in 2012 and again in 2018. She has served in the parliament for 12 long years where she has rendered services as the chairperson of the standing committee on maritime affairs, besides being member of standing committees on information, information technology, national heritage, delegated legislation besides others.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2024