QUETTA, Jan 31: Benazir Income Support Programme chairperson Farzana Raja has said that the programme has been launched with the aim of poverty alleviation.

Speaking to earthquake-hit women in an emergency relief centre in Killi Zarghoon of District of Pishin on Saturday, she said that in the first phase of the programme Rs34 billion would be distributed, providing relief to 3.5 million families across the country.

She said about seven million families would be helped through the programme next year.

“In Balochistan, forms will be distributed among 6,000 families and each woman will receive Rs2,000 after every two months at her door-step,” the minister said.

She said national identity cards would be provided to those women who did not have the cards. “In view of a tribal setup, Nadra has been asked to send mobile teams to make computerised ID cards for women in far-flung areas of the province,” she said.