IMF for social welfare programme besides BISP

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Pakistan to run a social programme for the poor people in addition to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

IMF says that Pakistan should take more social security measures for the weaker sections and make continuous efforts to run social programmes. Safe electricity and gas tariff slabs for the weaker sections should also continue. According to the IMF, the health and education expenditure target was met in September of this financial year, but the caretaker government could not meet the December target due to limited capacity. The elected government should continue social security spending until the end of the financial year.

According to the IMF, BISP is an emergency assistance programme with the best mechanism, but the administrative structure of the programme needs to be improved as there is scope for improving the distribution mechanism and transparency of the programme.