NA body expresses resentment over NDMA chief's absence in meeting.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety (PA and SS) expresses concern over non-attendance of meeting by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman with the remarks that the Parliament should be given priority by the officers while discharging official duties and the said chairman should ensure attendance in the next meeting.

9th meeting of the Standing Committee held today in the Parliament House Islamabad under the Chairpersonship of MNA Saira Bano. The NDMA chairman was invited by the Committee to brief on distribution of relief funds amongst people of flood affected areas but he did not turn up. The Member (Finance), NDMA, apprised the Committee that the chairman was engaged in relief operation; being conducted for the affectees of Turkiye and Syria, therefore, he could not attend the meeting. The Committee; while appreciating the government for extending support to the affectees of Turkiye and Syria, also underlined the need for accomplishment of relief operation for the flood affectees of Pakistan. The Committee also unanimously decided to defer briefing in question till its next meeting with directions to the Member (Finance), NDMA, to ensure attendance of NDMA chairman in the meeting.

The Secretary, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), briefed the Committee about the steps taken by them for improvement in the existing system of disbursements amongst the beneficiaries. He said that a new database; built up on 35 million households, has been prepared under 'Dynamic National Socio-Economic Registry (NESR)- 2023' system which will turn into a leap towards an efficient and shock responsive social protection system. It is totally digitalised and connected with National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) containing frequent demographic updates. It will be implemented through 647 Tehsil Level Registration Centres across Pakistan. About 591 Centres have been made functional. In order to facilitate the inhabitants of far flung hard to reach areas, 50 trucks and 500 motorcycles have been hired under Mobile Registration Vehicles System for collection of data. Initially, the campaign will be...