PESHAWAR — Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Rubina Khalid, inaugurated a new Benazir Nashonuma Facilitation Center at Maulvi Amir Shah Memorial Hospital to expand maternal and child health services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials from the World Health Organization, World Food Programme, and UNICEF attended the ceremony, reflecting ongoing collaboration between BISP and international development partners.
During her visit, the chairperson reviewed health and nutrition services being delivered at the facility and received a detailed briefing from programme staff. She also interacted with beneficiary families to assess service delivery standards.
Over 160 centres operational in KP
Addressing the media, Rubina Khalid said more than 160 Benazir Nashonuma centres have been established across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 10 in Peshawar. The programme focuses on addressing child stunting and maternal malnutrition through targeted nutritional support and medical monitoring.
She said more than 4.3 million women and children nationwide are currently benefiting from the initiative. The chairperson emphasized the importance of regular training for doctors and Lady Health Workers to ensure early diagnosis and timely referral of vulnerable cases.
Stipend increase and digital payment system
The BISP chairperson announced an increase in financial assistance for beneficiaries during Ramadan. The quarterly stipend under the Benazir Kafalat Programme has been raised from Rs13,500 to Rs14,500. Payments under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme and Benazir Taleemi Wazaif have also increased by Rs500.
She said a Digital Wallet system has been introduced to improve payment transparency and facilitate secure disbursement to beneficiaries. According to BISP, the initiative aims to support financial inclusion for 10 million women across Pakistan.
Beneficiaries were advised to obtain SIM cards for Digital Wallet services only through official BISP channels.
Skills training and outreach initiatives
Rubina Khalid said Mobile Registration Vans are being deployed in merged districts to expand programme access in remote areas.
She also highlighted the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, under which thousands of youth have been registered for skills development training. Consultations are underway with provincial authorities to link trainees with accredited institutions for improved employment prospects.
