Balochistan Point Voice of Nation
QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that people in 29 districts of the province are living below poverty line, therefore especial focus is required to alleviate poverty and backwardness from the province.
He expressed these views during a briefing given by Chairman Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Senator Anwar Baig and other officials of BISP, here on Thursday.
During the briefing, it was said that in order to lessen poverty and improve the living condition of poor families in the country various projects are underway under BISP. These include financial assistance, waseela-e-rozgar, waseela-e-haq, waseela-e-sehat and waseela-e-taleem.
As many as 222,960 people are being given cash financial aid while 231,103 people who were identified to be given aid are deprived of aid due to non availability of their identity cards and having some other reasons.
Through waseela-e-haq project, people are being given Rs 0.3 million financial assistance to start their business with few terms and conditions, as through first installment 802 people and in second installment 32 people have been provided.
Under waseela-e-rozgar project 12,309 people have been imparted technical training in different departments. Likewise under waseela-e-sehat project 1 million people have been given insurance facility and they would be issued biometric cards.
It was said in the briefing that under waseela-e-taleem project so far only one district namely Noshki has been taken as model where 1650 children are being paid Rs 200 monthly, and five more districts of Balochistan would be incorporated in this project.
Addressing the meeting, BISP Chairman Senator Anwar Baig said that poverty ratio in Balochistan is very high; however, all indicators pertaining to poverty are not correct. In some areas the situation is more serious, he added.
He said that federal government is quite serious to alleviate poverty and address injustices committed in past, adding that job opportunities would be created in Gulf countries where technical persons would be required.
BISP chairman said that in order to provide technical training to the youth of Balochistan, the technical centres of the province would be upgraded and latest equipments would be introduced so that they could be trained in accordance with the demands of market. In this connection, he said that an agreement would be chalked out with government of Balochistan.
He said that Punjab government has also make development to provide technical training to the youth of Balochistan.
Addressing the briefing, Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that poverty ratio in Balochistan is very high as compared to other provinces of the country. Therefore, he said that BISP and government of Balochistan need to work fast to alleviate poverty.
He said that the report of non availability of identity cards of 231,103 is not correct rather it has some other reasons such as lack of required staff and remote areas.
Mr. Baloch said that deprivation of such a huge number of people from getting aid is not justifiable, adding that provincial government would fully support to have access to deprived people.
He said that through technical training- programmes the youth would get good opportunities to find jobs in Gulf countries. Thus he stressed that the youth should be given technical training with the contemporary demands and market so that the unemployed youth could be made skillful.
Chief Minister stressed upon the need that steps should be taken in education sector so that parents could get interest to enroll their children in schools.
He directed that more vacancies of BISP should be created so that all needy people could have access and could not be deprived of aid.
Staff Reporter
Published in The Balochistan Point on October 30, 2014
