Last Updated on: 18th October 2024, 01:30 am
The Government of Pakistan has announced that eligible Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) beneficiaries will soon get subsidies on their electricity bills. K-Electric and BISP will arrange a meeting for this purpose to determine how to provide the required data to eligible households.
Subsidies To The BISP Recipients Facing High Electricity Bills
Efforts are in process to provide financial assistance to BISP beneficiaries. The program is currently focusing on developing a strategy to speed up the implementation of this initiative.
According to the Prime Minister’s directives, the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Security (MPA&SS) has confirmed that BISP beneficiaries will receive subsidies on their electricity bills. BISP contacted K-Electric to arrange a meeting on the matter, but the power company suggested forwarding the request through the Power Division.
BISP Partners With K-Electric For Electricity Subsidies
BISP has asked the PD to instruct K-Electric to cooperate in implementing the Prime Minister’s directive. The strategy is for BISP to share data from 5 million beneficiaries with the Power Information Technology Company (PITC) to verify the information. Once the power and finance divisions agree, the PITC will complete its data validation and then disburse the subsidies through the electricity bills.
Transfer of Subsidies Through E-Vouchers
MPA&SS will use the e-vouchers to provide subsidies directly to domestic electricity consumers. K-Electric states that the government’s finance and power divisions will process all subsidies according to their guidelines, and these departments will manage all instructions on data sharing.
Distribution of E-Vouchers by Bank Branches
Official sources say BISP will share the data on the basis of PMT scores, including the phone numbers of the beneficiaries, with the power distribution companies. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will verify the e-vouchers sent by the Power Division or Electricity Companies (DISCOS) to the registered mobile phone numbers. The State Bank of Pakistan will set up a system with banks that allows consumers to pay their electricity bills using e-vouchers.
How Will The Beneficiaries Receive The Subsidies? Step-by-step Guide
Here is a simple process for BISP recipients to understand how they can get their subsidies:
- The government will identify 20 million households with electricity connections through the PMT system, and the power department, also known as DISCOs, will issue the e-vouchers.
- Use of e-vouchers: These families can submit their electricity bills and e-vouchers to designated collection points like banks or financial institutions.
- Verification: The system will verify the subsidy by verifying the meter reference number and ID card number at the bill collection points. The system will then automatically update itself.
- Automated matching: The system compares electricity consumption with BISP PMT data, confirming that only eligible families receive the subsidies.
- Future bills will be adjusted to recover subsidies for ineligible families.
- Appeals process: Families can visit NSER desks to update their information and request future e-vouchers if they believe they should have received inclusion.
- Each household will only receive a single subsidy, regardless of the number of electricity meters they have.
Last Words
This initiative marks an important step in providing financial help to low-income families through a system that ensures transparency and equity. By working with K-Electric and other power companies, the government will support worthy families.