ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s advisor and PML-N Senator Rana Sanaullah has questioned the credibility of data underpinning the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), calling for its immediate verification and revision.
Responding to a press conference by PPP leaders, the former interior minister said there were “serious objections” to the existing beneficiary lists. “The programme should be revised after proper verification,” he maintained.
Sanaullah clarified that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, in her recent remarks, had only spoken about her province’s share of water and not that of any other province. “If Punjab’s water is routed through any part of the province, there should be no objection,” he remarked, amid criticism from the PPP over her choice of words.
He added that while the PPP is not formally part of the government, it continues to support the PML-N-led coalition. “Despite differences, both parties have agreed to maintain mutual respect and avoid harsh language. Both have their own policies, ideologies, and perspectives — neither is bound to follow the other’s,” he said.
The controversy comes days after PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira criticised Maryam Nawaz’s “language, tone, and choice of words,” warning that such rhetoric could invite similar responses from Sindh.
Earlier, on September 19, Rana Sanaullah had gone further, suggesting that BISP in its current form was unsustainable. He floated alternatives such as a “Benazir Rozgar Scheme” or “Hunarmand Scheme” that would equip beneficiaries with skills and employment opportunities rather than stipends.
He argued that the government spends an “inappropriately large” portion of its budget on BISP despite fiscal constraints, and insisted the matter be debated in parliament.
His remarks have met resistance from PPP leaders, including Senator Sherry Rehman and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who have repeatedly urged the government to expand BISP coverage to nearly three million flood-affected families.
A BISP official, however, clarified to local media that Rana Sanaullah’s statements were made in his personal capacity, adding that no such overhaul proposal is currently under consideration.
Meanwhile, the BISP itself has begun reviewing plans for a more transparent and accessible payment system to ensure financial assistance reaches beneficiaries securely across Pakistan.
