Qandeel Baloch’s Mother Excluded From Benazir Income Support Programme

Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch’s mother has been excluded from the Benazir Income Support Programme as the government seeks to remove ‘undeserving’ people availing the programme.

Rights activist Nighat Dad stated on Twitter that Qandeel Baloch’s mother was among those whose name had been removed from the poverty alleviation programme. She stated that she had been informed of this by Qandeel’s mother, Anwar Bibi, who called her to lament what the Rs5000 she received through BISP meant to her and Qandeel’s father, Baba Azeem.

Qandeel’s mother is among those who have been excluded from the @Ehsaas_Pk (BISP) program. Anwar Bibi called this morning, while crying she mentioned what those 5000pkr meant to her & Baba Azeem. Baba Azeem is now visually impaired & disabled. @SaniaNishtar #QandeelBaloch pic.twitter.com/0PHP1KuZat

— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) January 11, 2020

Last month, the government had conducted data analysis to identify around 0.8 million ‘undeserving people’ who were benefiting from the income support programme. The exclusion was targeted at those who had achieved financial stability. Among those excluded also included 2543 government officers of grade-17 and above.

True: 2,543 exited from @bisp_pakistan are government officers/their spouses Grade 17 and above. We have written to Chief Secretaries and Ministries officially. At @bisp_pakistan disciplinary action is underway. Safeguards built for future under @Ehsaas_Pk governance reform

— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) January 8, 2020