No plan to abolish BISP; provinces may get administrative control

The federal government is considering the option of devolving the Benazir Income Support Programme to the provinces. Established in 2008, BISP is Pakistan’s largest social protection initiative, offering financial support to over 10 million underprivileged households, with a major focus on assisting women. While speaking to journalists in Matiari on Friday, Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kheal Das Kohistani made it clear that the government was not shutting down the BISP. He explained that the debate over BISP’s administrative control began after the implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, under which multiple federal ministries and departments were devolved to the provinces. Kohistani noted that several federating units had also expressed interest in managing the programme at the provincial level. He added that no final decision would be taken without consulting the government’s coalition partners. Pakistan rejects LNG spot bids for May amid Qatar supply hopes