The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) board has approved the inclusion of the transgender community as beneficiaries of the Benazir Kafalat Program (BKP), it emerged on Friday.
In the 56th Board of Directors meeting chaired by federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and BISP Chairman Shazia Marri, the board members urged the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to simplify a system for updating the transgender community’s CNICs.
56th Board Meeting of Benazir Income Support Program which held under chair of Federal Minister/Chairperson BISP @ShaziaAttaMarri taken decisions of structural reforms,extending benefits to transgender community and aimed to extend all possible help to needy people. pic.twitter.com/aVpfG5HIBy
— Benazir Income Support Programme (@bisp_pakistan) December 2, 2022
Speaking on the occasion, Marri termed the approval of the transgender policy as a “landmark achievement” of the present government and urged the board members to use their “good offices and influence” to mobilize the marginalized community so that the maximum number of transgender persons could benefit from the policy.
On Friday, the federal minister outlined the process for the members of the transgender community to register themselves with BKP, adding that they would receive Rs7,000 upon successful registration.
The board also acknowledged that organizations like BISP, Nadra and partner banks have “worked tremendously” to extend financial support to flood affectees in a short span of time.
The board decided that BISP was going to adopt a new payment system under which the beneficiaries would be able to get funding directly through the bank of their own choice, thus ensuring a transparent cash disbursement mechanism.
Marri also informed the board that under the prime minister’s cash relief assistance for flood-affected people, Rs70 billion were disbursed among 2.8 million families.
