Islamabad:

A total of 9,933 beneficiaries of  Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) have so far been provided interest free loans amounting to Rs 1,567.81 million under Waseela-e-Haq, said an official.

As many as 33,404 beneficiaries have already been selected through 36 computerised balloting. Each beneficiary would be paid Rs 150,000 as loan forstarting business to enable them to stand on their own feet, he said.

Talking to media, he said so far 138 Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) beneficiaries have been provided interest free loans amounting to Rs. 23.39 million. While 238 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) beneficiaries have been paid Rs 35.60 million, 642 Balochistan beneficiaries got Rs 94.95 million, 88 beneficiaries from Gilgit/ Baltistan are paid Rs 12.90 million, 26 Islamabad beneficiaries paid Rs 3.90 million, 2,373 Khyber Pakhtunkhaw beneficiaries are paid Rs 379.20 million, 4461 Punjab beneficiaries paid Rs 718.57 million and 1967 Sindh beneficiaries have been given Rs 299.30 million as loan.

Likewise, the beneficiaries of BISP would be provided 10 percent additional discount at Utility Stores soon.

A sum of Rs 108 billion has been distributed among 4 million needy people under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in last four years. The number of the needy is expected to be enhanced up to seven million deserving people from across the country.

source:  http://www.PakObserver.com / Pakistan Observer / Home / by Staff Reporter / Monday, October 22nd, 2012