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Wednesday, March 23, 2011



Pakistan Day: A commitment with equal opportunities

By Farzana Raja

Seventy-one years ago, it was eventful day of 23rd March 1940 when thousands of Muslims from various parts of the Sub-continent shared a dream together. To convert the dream into reality, they gathered in Lahore under the able leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It was a dream of having separate homeland for Muslims of the Sub-continent, who were largely feeling marginalised and deprived both socio-politically and economically.

The Pakistan Resolution was passed as a result of this dream and events unfolded later suggested that it was not an ordinary dream but a vision and a mission as well aiming at uplifting the lives of deprived Muslims in the Sub-continent. This was the dream, vision and mission which led a marginalised and deprived community towards creation of a nation where they were free to write their own destiny.

In persuasion of this dream, the great founding father of the nation gave special importance to well-being of the people. It is evident from his policy speech on August 11, 1947. The Quaid said “If we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor.” Hence, we want Pakistan not only economically independent but also free from extremism, free from terrorism and free from poverty.

Pakistan was envisaged as state offering equal opportunities and equity in the distribution of resources, for all specially the masses, to live a meaningful life. The history had witnessed that the politics of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Shaheed Benazir Bhutto also revolved around the same vision as the well-being of people is imperative for an independent and sovereign Pakistan.

Today, while confronting with unprecedented challenges, it is high time for us to revisit the idea behind the demand and creation of this great nation. Fortunately, the pursuit of translating this vision in to reality has not been abandoned yet. Instead, it has gained an unprecedented momentum by present democratic government, under the unwavering resolve and relentless support of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Right after the inception, the nascent democratic government had to face multiple challenges i.e. rising inflation, mounting unemployment, and diminishing opportunities resulting in a major section of population living below the line of poverty. On the other hand, the global economic recession and exceptional food inflation triggered the apprehensions that already impoverished would not be able to sustain this economic shock and will plunge deeper into the abyss of poverty and hunger.

The experts depicted a bleak scenario suggesting that this phenomenon would lead to further untoward impact upon already deteriorating socio-economic milieu in the country. Furthermore, with nation already committed in the war on terror, causing a dent to already fragile national economy and consuming a considerable chunk of national resources, situation was ripe for breeding more frustration among the masses leading to apathy and vulnerability to extremism.

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was immediate and befitting response from the democratic government to confront these looming threats effectively. In no time, the step has become a long awaited ray of hope for the millions of hopeless of this country. Due to its transparent and efficient mechanisms, BISP has emerged as first ever such initiative in the social sector of the country, which has gained support and trust of various prestigious international organisations. Similarly, unanimously approval of BISP Act 2010 from both houses of parliament in August 2010, both houses of the parliament demonstrates the confidence reposed in the transparency, integrity and efficacy of BISP.

In this context, the first ever nationwide targeting survey was started from October 2010 in all districts of the country, including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Overall more than 60 percent of the country has been surveyed while the entire process will be completed by the end of June 2011. Survey in KP is also about to be completed. The poverty scorecard survey was started in Balochistan on priority basis under “Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan”.

Thus, a sense of provincial harmony has been created through establishing a parity in the all the regions of Pakistan. The initiatives of BISP have also contributed significantly in advancing the cause of women empowerment as cash grants and other benefits to registered families are being provided through the women head of the recipient families. Similarly, educated youth of BISP is being encouraged to be part of ongoing nationwide poverty survey in their respective areas.

For poverty eradication, BISP has taken numerous innovative steps besides provision of regular income support to beneficiary families. Waseela-e-Haq is one such initiative, which is basically designed to promote self-employment among women beneficiaries or their nominees to improve their livelihood. It offers Rs 300,000 long-term interest free financial assistance to randomly selected beneficiaries, to be recovered in 15 years.

Similarly, vocational training under Waseela-e-Rozgar scheme, life insurance and emergency relief are proving to be highly instrumental in poverty alleviation as well as economic uplift of the poor and downtrodden segments of society. The payment mechanisms are also being improved by introduction of Mobile Phone Banking and Benazir Smart Card to facilitate all registered deserving families.

It’s worth mentioning here that the present democratic government has liberated the people of Swat and Malakand from the clutches of terrorist elements. While saluting the sacrifices made by the civilians, jawans of armed forces and other law enforcing agencies, we feel pride on the prompt contribution of BISP in helping IDPs when they were in desperate need.

Slowly but surely, the initiatives taken by BISP are contributing significantly in materialising the dreams of the Muslims of the Sub-continent and making Pakistan a social welfare state. The Pakistan Day is an occasion for us to reaffirm our strong commitment of uplifting the lives of poor and marginalised segments of society. These efforts are aiming to make Pakistan a great homeland for every Pakistani without any consideration of caste, creed and religion, as was dreamt 71 years ago through “Pakistan Resolution”.

The writer is the Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)

 

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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