ISLAMABAD: The federal government has increased monthly stipend of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) after approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
A five-day negotiations between Pakistani officials and the IMF delegation have been concluded, in which it was decided that no cuts will be made in the budget.
The IMF also gave a nod to increase the monthly stipend of BISP, a cash transfer programme for Pakistan’s deserving households, from Rs10,000 to Rs13,500.
Sources said that the IMF delegation held different meetings with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, representatives of provincial governments, and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials on Friday.
The sources added that Pakistani officials successfully convinced the IMF delegation over the provincial surplus budget, but the Fund’s officials partially agreed on the government position about agricultural tax.
“The IMF officials also grilled representatives of provincial governments, asking some of the toughest questions,” they said and added that it has been agreed that all the other provinces will follow Punjab and impose a Super Tax on agricultural revenue.
