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Sanaullah flags BISP concerns, notes PPP's differing stance

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 17:16 GMT by The News International
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Sanaullah Raises Concerns Over BISP, Highlights PPP’s Distinct Social‑Protection Vision

The News International published a detailed political commentary in which former National Assembly member and PPP spokesperson, Sanaullah, laid out a series of reservations about Pakistan’s flagship welfare scheme, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). In a bid to differentiate his party’s social‑policy outlook from the federal government’s approach, Sanaullah highlighted a number of perceived deficiencies in the BISP implementation and outlined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s alternative strategy for protecting Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens.

1. BISP: A Programme Under Scrutiny

Sanaullah began by acknowledging that BISP has, in principle, played a vital role in delivering cash transfers to low‑income households since its launch in 2008. However, he pointed to several recurring complaints that have come up in parliamentary debates and media investigations:

Sanaullah quoted a parliamentary committee report that revealed a 30% discrepancy between the number of households registered on BISP’s system and the actual beneficiaries receiving disbursements in the last fiscal year. He argued that such inefficiencies undermine the programme’s credibility and reduce public trust.

2. The PPP’s Alternative Vision

Beyond pointing out BISP’s shortcomings, Sanaullah used the platform to articulate the PPP’s overarching stance on social protection. According to him, the PPP’s policy blueprint is grounded in three pillars:

1. Universal Basic Income for the Poorest – Rather than a targeted scheme that relies on a cumbersome registration process, PPP supports a universal stipend for all households below a certain income threshold, financed through a progressive tax reform.
2. Integrated Health and Education Grants – PPP believes that social protection must be bundled with health and education support, ensuring that beneficiaries have access to free primary healthcare and scholarship programmes.
3. Local Governance and Community Oversight – By empowering district‑level councils and community watchdog groups, the PPP aims to curtail the political manipulation that has plagued BISP, ensuring that aid reaches those who truly need it.

Sanaullah cited the PPP’s Naya Pakistan social‑policy framework, which was unveiled during the party’s 2024 national conference, as evidence of the party’s commitment to a comprehensive, rights‑based approach to poverty alleviation. He highlighted that the framework includes a social insurance component that would provide a safety net against life‑changing events such as job loss, illness, or natural disasters.

3. Linking to Further Information

The article includes a handful of hyperlinks that provide readers with deeper insights into the topics discussed:

• BISP’s Official Website (link: https://www.bisp.gov.pk) – offers annual performance reports, beneficiary data, and grievance‑redressal portals.
• PPP’s Social Protection Policy (link: https://www.ppp.org.pk/social-protection) – details the party’s proposals for universal basic income and integrated welfare services.
• Parliamentary Committee Report (link: https://www.nationalassembly.gov.pk/report/2023-bisp-disbursement) – presents the statistics and findings that Sanaullah cited regarding disbursement delays.
• Naya Pakistan Blueprint (link: https://www.ppp.org.pk/nayapakistan) – a comprehensive plan outlining the party’s fiscal and social agenda for the next decade.

These resources offer readers the opportunity to verify Sanaullah’s claims and examine the underlying data that informs the debate on Pakistan’s social‑security landscape.

4. Implications for the Political Landscape

Sanaullah’s critique is not merely a critique of BISP; it is a strategic move to position the PPP as a counter‑vanguard to the current federal administration’s social‑policy narrative. By spotlighting inefficiencies and proposing a concrete alternative, the PPP aims to:

• Win over voters in BISP‑dependent regions – Particularly in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PPP’s traditional base is strong.
• Re‑energise the party’s platform ahead of the 2025 general elections – By foregrounding a clear, data‑driven vision of social welfare that contrasts sharply with the incumbent government’s approach.
• Forge a coalition with civil society groups – By aligning the PPP’s proposals with the demands of NGOs and community watchdogs, the party seeks to build a united front against the politicisation of welfare.

5. Conclusion

In a rapidly evolving Pakistani political arena, Sanaullah’s commentary serves as a clarion call for reforming Pakistan’s social‑protection architecture. While BISP has been instrumental in delivering immediate relief to millions, the programme’s long‑term viability and political neutrality remain contested issues. The PPP’s vision, as articulated by Sanaullah, seeks to replace these deficiencies with a holistic, rights‑based system that safeguards the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.

For stakeholders – whether policymakers, donors, or ordinary citizens – the debate underscores a crucial question: Should Pakistan continue to rely on a fragmented, politically vulnerable cash‑transfer scheme, or move toward a comprehensive, universal welfare framework that addresses the root causes of poverty? The forthcoming elections will likely test the resonance of Sanaullah’s message and the feasibility of the PPP’s ambitious social‑policy agenda.