The International Monetary Fund (IMF) called for further expansion of poverty alleviation and social protection programs.
Negotiations between Pakistan and the IMF review mission for a new loan program continued for the fourth day today.
The IMF called for further expansion of poverty alleviation and social protection programs.
According to the sources, the IMF emphasized on increasing the coverage of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), ensuring transparency and improving administrative efficiency, and asked to increase the budget of cash transfer programs as much as possible. .
Officials told the IMF mission briefing that Rs 472 billion will be spent on BISP this year, provinces will also be persuaded to bear the burden of social security.
The briefing informed that BISP beneficiaries will be protected in the future through a cash transfer program on electricity tariffs, with a target of adding 2 crore households to a fully functional dynamic registry by September 2024.
Officials further said that the number of beneficiaries of BISP has reached 93 lakh, 3 lakh more families have been included in the sponsorship program this year, while 9 lakh families have been registered under the Health Cash Transfer programme. 19 lakh children have been included in the HaiEducation Cash Transfer Program. More funds will be allocated for social security programs in the next financial year.
