PTI Govt Receives Flak From Jiyalas For Changing BISP's Name To Ehsaas

A video from a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan from a few months ago has gone viral on social media where a parliamentarian suggested that the government changed the name of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). The proposal was made on grounds that those who receive financial aid under the BISP think it is a Sindh-government initiative due to former PM Benazir Bhutto's name.

In the video, Makhdoom Hassan can be heard requesting the PM to change name of the program so that it is clear that the initiative is led by the provincial government and not the government of Sindh. Responding to his request, the PM says that the name would be changed.

https://twitter.com/TrimziAli/status/1248695228430761985?s=20

Earlier on Thursday, Attorney General of Pakistan had told the court that Ehsaas Program launched by the government was actually BISP with a different name. "The name of BISP was changed to Ehsas program", he told the court when asked about the mechanism for distribution of rations and aid among the poor due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Meanwhile, PPP leader Dr. Nafisa Shah has condemned the government's action of changing the name saying that a law made by parliament cannot be changed. She said that the Attorney General's statement that Benazir Income Support Program has been renamed as Ehsas program was surprising, adding that the BISP had empowered the poor women.

PPP supporters on social media have also expressed their displeasure at the change of name and termed it unnecessary.