ISLAMABAD President Asif Ali Zardari will formally launch the 'Benazir Income Support Programme' today (Thursday) to provide first-ever direct cash relief of Rs1000 per household to some 3 million poorest of the poor of the country to off-set negative effects of the rocketing prices of food items, unemployment and the under-paid labourers.

BISP announced in the national budget in June was twice delayed as earlier it was to be launched on August 14 and then before Eid ul Fitr.

The PPP-led coalition government who took three months in the formal launch of the politically trumpeted BISP as 'historic' step, seemed oblivious of the woes of the people, is all set to save substantial amount from Rs34 billion allocated for the purpose as the lapsed period from July 1 has not been considered for the disbursement as arrears of the meager amount of Rs1000 which has already been reduced to about 20 percent due to inflation and upsurge of dollar against rupee.

Eminent economist Kaiser Bengali has been appointed honorary coordinator of the programme which will be made transparent through identification of MPs and certification of Nadra in fifteen months.
 
Minister for Information Sherry Rahman who briefed the media about the launch of BISP told a questioner that the programme has been kept separate from Zakat and Baitul Mal since both were weak institutions.

The special feature of the programme, she asserted was that the support amounts will be disbursed to women households instead of male members to ensure empowerment of the female folk.

A number of international monetary and donor agencies have shown interest in providing financial support to the programme, the minister claimed adding that the coverage of the deserving will further be extended from 12 to 14 expected under the current scheme.

The MNAs and Senators who have already started receiving 8000 application forms each will identify the most deserving people which will be ratified by Nadra within 15 days after which cheques will be disbursed to the targeted people through post office.

The Minister said that any number of forms would be rejected if found in violation of set criteria.

Under the criteria, widows, handicapped and the families who earn less than Rs.6000 per month were eligible for receiving the income support cheques but the ones who were already benefiting by the Punjab government's relief programme, government pensioners, Zakat or Baitul Mal were ineligible to apply.
   
The minister termed the BISP as 'historic' and first-ever direct social welfare programme of its kind and rejected the allegation that the government was politicizing it in any manner. She further claimed that it was first time in the national history that the government was taking responsibility of providing direct relief to the downtrodden sections of the society.

Dr. Bengali told a questioner that the scheme has been launched in a manner that it should not cost any infrastructural expenditures and the entire amount goes in the accounts of most deserving people.