Those who tried to play God now looking for shelter: President

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said that those who had tried to play God were now in a state of panic and looking for shelter, adding that this was democracy’s revenge upon them.

Addressing a gathering during the Waseela-e-Haq draw and the cheque distribution ceremony under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said addition of free social services like health, accident insurance, vocational training and interest-free financing for self-employment would make the BISP the most productive initiative of the government.

The president said that tolerance was critical for the smooth functioning of democracy. “We have proved in the four-and-a-half years of our government that we have acquired the capability to run the democratic system and have the required level of tolerance.”

While lauding the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, he said that she had firmly believed in democracy being the best revenge against the forces of dictatorship, adding that following her vision, he had raised the slogan of Pakistan-Khappay and ‘democracy is the best revenge’ after she was martyred.

The president said that the BISP was the flagship programme of the government to reduce poverty and empower women. He expressed satisfaction over the progress of the BISP, which was developing into a comprehensive social protection, poverty alleviation and women empowerment platform.

The president said that it was a matter of pride that the BISP had progressed and was becoming a comprehensive social safety net, adding that it had attracted worldwide appreciation for its transparency, objectivity and efficiency. “To reach over seven million families in a short span of four years is indeed a major achievement,” he added.
He congratulated Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja and her team for making this programme a success. He also thanked the international community and partners for their help and support.

He said that he was personally monitoring the progress of the poverty scorecard survey, adding that it was gratifying to note that the national roll-out of this survey was progressing well. “The countrywide programme has already been completed in Balochistan,” he remarked.

The president also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Benazir Smart Card based payment system in a number of districts. He said that mobile phone banking would make payments to the BISP families even easier, adding that provision of interest free financing through “Waseela-e-Haq” was meant to help the BISP beneficiaries break free from the poverty trap.

The president said that it was a matter of satisfaction that on-ground implementation of the Waseela-e-Haq scheme was well under way, adding that giving to the poor what was their due was the best way to pay tribute to Shaheed Bibi.

The president said that the BISP was a realisation of the dream and vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He urged the BISP to speed up implementation of the other initiatives of the programme like vocational training and Life and health insurance. “Children going through life without proper nutrition, basic education and health services are trapped in poverty and cannot wait for long. It is their right and all resources must be mobilised to complete the coverage of each and every deserving Pakistani family under the programme,” the president added.

Earlier, Farzana Raza also spoke on the occasion and thanked the president for his personal interest in the development and success of the programme.

The president, accompanied by Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh, initiated computerised draws of the Waseela-e-Haq programme and distributed cheques and Benazir debit cards among BISP beneficiaries.