Benazir Smart Card to benefit people living below poverty line: FM

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday that government is going to issue Benazir Smart Cards to benefit people living below the poverty line in the country.

While addressing public meetings in different parts of NA-148 constituency, the FM said that holders of Benazir Smart Card will be entitled to avail facilities under health insurance, life insurance and education free of cost. Announcing Sui gas facility for village Riazabad of UC Loother and Rs 26.7 million worth of development schemes for UC Abbaspur, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that PPP has a vision of development and was moving forward positively in the right direction for uplift of infrastructure and providing relief to poverty ridden people under governments revolutionary initiative of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) that is benefitting Lakhs of poor families across the country.

The development schemes for UC Abbaspur included 24 village electrification schemes, metal road from Chah Bagh to Chah Monjiwala, bridge over Sujanpur canal and soaling schemes in 20 villages.

FM said that government was also extending financial assistance worth Rs 300,000 to many families every month through a draw under BISP to help them sustain life with honour.

We are moving forward with the mission of serving the people. Our thinking is positive and hands are clean.

FM said that last one and half years performance of the government was evident from its people-friendly policies which were being pursued vigorously.

He said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has ordered ministry concerned to withdraw the notification regarding recent raise in tubewell power tariff from Rs 4 to Rs 6.45 per unit. He said he had pointed out in a cabinet meeting that tariff was raised without informing the government and had recommended it should remain at previous level of Rs 4 per unit to provide relief to farming community.

He said that problems of paddy growers would be resolved within next few days adding that cabinet has enhanced the paddy procurement target upto one million ton and practical steps were being taken for speedy procurement.

FM pointed out that Kerry-Lugar Bill was a triumph of successful foreign policy of the government under which Pakistan will get over Rs 1200 billion during next five years. FM said that it was not a loan but aid that will be spent on poverty eradication, education, health, clean drinking water facilities and other welfare oriented initiatives.

FM recalled that last year growers got handsome price of wheat. He added that cotton growers were also getting Rs 2200 per maund of Phutti (seed cotton) because world cotton production is expected to record six per cent reduction and three per cent increase in consumption this year as compared to last year.