BISP is Pakistan’s Most Transparent Welfare Program, According to International Institutions. Farzana Raja

Benezir Income Support Program is Pakistan’s Most Transparent Welfare Program, According to International Institutions. Farzana Raja

By: Raja Zahid A Khanzada

Dallas : Former Chair of the Benazir Income Support Program, Farzana Raja, stated that the Benazir Income Support Program, initiated in Pakistan to alleviate poverty and empower women, is acknowledged as the most transparent social uplift program by international financial institutions and development partners. Its benefits are directly reaching the general public. BISP is A political program benefitting the poorest of the poor families of Pakistan, which should not be subject to political opposition.

She was addressing a special guest speech at an event organized by the South Asia Democracy Watch in Dallas, Texas, titled “Poverty Alleviation and Women Empowerment in Pakistan.” Prominent figures from political, social, and various fields related to Dallas participated in the event. The President of South Asia Democracy Watch, Amir Makhani, welcomed the guest of honor, Farzana Raja, while Vice President Syed Fayyaz Hassan introduced Farzana Raja and topic of discussion.

Member of the Texas State Assembly, Terry Meza, praised Farzana Raja’s services and presented her with a certificate of appreciation from the Texas State Assembly and the Texas flag. On this occasion, Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada and Dr. Nasreen presented traditional gifts from Sindh. Other members of the South Asia Democracy Watch, including Aftab Siddiqui, Barrister Tauseef Kamal, and Raja Muzafar, were also present.

Farzana Raja further stated that the Benazir Income Support Program is a unique program in Pakistan for the welfare of the poor, which has no precedent in the past. She faced numerous internal and external challenges in initiating this program, but she did not lose courage, and now the country has a successful welfare program that has been recognized by the IMF and other international financial institutions. She suggested that corporate social responsibility and targeted subsidies model should be adopted to enhance the scope of benefits to include more needy families in the program as well as increase the credibility to gain more support at international level.

At the event, Beverly Hill, the President and Founder of the Global Prosperity Initiative for Women’s Development and Women’s Rights, was also present. In her opening speech, she mentioned that gender side is a global issue, with over 3.2 million women becoming victims of gender-based violence every year. Among them, 38% of girls are killed through prenatal sex determination, 31% are underage and married, and 9% die due to the lack of reproductive health facilities. Thirteen percent of girls die before reaching the age of four due to neglect. Hill emphasized the urgent need for the world to find a solution to this serious issue. It is not just a problem for developing countries but also for developed societies, where women are dying every moment due to gender-based violence. She praised Farzana Raja’s efforts for the progress and welfare of women in Pakistan.

At the end of the event, the attendees asked questions to Farzana Raja, to which she provided detailed answers and also presented her book to the audience.