ECC revises up stipends under BISP

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Monday approved the enhancement of Ehsaas Kifalat or BISP monthly stipend to the tune of Rs166 per beneficiary from January 1, 2022.

The decision was taken during a meeting of ECC presided over by Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin. ECC approved the request of the poverty alleviation and social safety division regarding indexation policy for cash transfer and allowed BISP to adopt the institutional mechanism for periodic update of regular cash transfer benefits to Ehsaas kafalat beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).

The beneficiaries would receive an additional cash of Rs166 per month due to indexation. “The mechanism shall consist of a Committee which will be chaired by Secretary Finance Division.

The other members of the committee would be additional finance secretary, secretary poverty alleviation and social safety division, economic advisor finance division, and one co-opted member for independent technical advice,” said a statement.

The terms of reference of the committee would be to consider and recommend any update/adjustment of regular cash benefits of BISP i.e. Ehsaas Kafalat programme for inflationary reasons within a period of three years from last enhancement to the federal cabinet for approval.

The committee would also consider and approve any update/adjustment of cash transfers under BISP programmes other than Ehsaas Kafalat programme.

ECC also approved the additional funds requirement of Rs75 million of ministry of housing and works in respect of three development schemes.

Technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs43 million in favour of ministry of housing and works was also approved.

ECC in its meeting allowed information and broadcasting division for re-appropriation of PSDP funds of Rs17.6 million through technical supplementary grant.

Interior Ministry’s request of technical supplementary grant of Rs30 million was also approved. Similarly, technical supplementary grant request of ministry of narcotics control for Rs5 million, science & technology for Rs317 million and establishment division for Rs54 million was approved in the ECC meeting.

Arrears of contribution amounting to Rs3.3 billion on account of group insurance fund by the finance division on behalf of the federal government non-gazetted employees was also approved in the meeting.