ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry clarified on Monday the government has no intention to rename the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), bringing a controversy over the government’s reported move to remove Benazir Bhutto’s name from the social protection programme to an end.
“BISP will continue alongside Ehsas programme,” the minister said while speaking to the media here.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had last week launched an ambitious social protection and poverty alleviation programme named ‘Ehsas’ (compassion).
The government’s reported move to rename the BISP stirred a controversy, eliciting strong reaction from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that termed it a conspiracy to deprive poor segment of society of crucial financial support.
Chaudhry said the Ehsas programme, which includes provision of financial assistance to the poor stratum of society, is being extended to other parts of the country as well, adding the poor will get shelter and employment under the programme.
Read Also: Khursheed Shah vows resistance to any move to rename BISP
Talking about the recent hike in prices of petroleum products, he said fuel prices have seen an increase in the international market of late. He added the prices of petrol and diesel were significantly low during the previous tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).
Commenting on National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari, the minister said cases against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman were instituted during Nawaz Sharif’s stint in power. The fake bank accounts cases were instituted in 2015 and 2016, he added.
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