BISP head urges apology after Rana Sana's beggar remarks

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Monday urged those whose words may have hurt BISP beneficiaries’ sentiments to apologise.

While she did not specifically name anyone, the senator said this during a press conference in Islamabad after mentioning remarks by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ last week, Sanaullah claimed that the BISP data was “not accurate to the extent of Punjab”, alleged it was marred by corruption and remarked that the programme served no purpose other than turning people into beggars.

In her press conference, Khalid said it was not right to say that BISP was turning people into beggars, explaining that the programme catered to those who worked to earn a living. But, she continued, when they need financial assistance, it is the state’s responsibility to aid them without compromising their self-respect.

“BISP does not turn people into beggars; it prevents people from becoming one,” she said.

She then appealed to “all those giving such statements to abstain from doing so”.

“It is insulting,” she said. “No one has the right to insult, and I would appeal to them to apologise to [BISP beneficiary] families whose sentiments have been hurt by their words.”

She said while she was “open to suggestions” for the programme’s improvement, derogatory words about it.

The programme should not be “targeted for political motives”, she added.

Khalid said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had full confidence in the programme, sharing further details about the programme.

Moreover, she said the BISP database was the largest in the country after the National Database and Registration Authority’s database.

“Saying that its data is incorrect, giving such sweeping statements — it takes years to build something and only a day is enough to destroy it,” she remarked.

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