The Sindh government has prepared a special financial assistance programme for poor families hit by drought in Tharparkar, using the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) database. The aid will be paid on top of the support families already receive from BISP, BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid said.

Khalid announced the programme after chairing a meeting at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in the district, according to a statement issued on Monday. She later spoke to the media in Mithi, the district headquarters of Tharparkar, where she said a survey of eligible people had been completed.

Who will receive the extra aid

Families with a poverty score below 32 are receiving the aid, Khalid said. The poverty score is the measure BISP uses to identify its poorest beneficiaries, and the survey of eligible people in Tharparkar has already been completed.

If the Sindh government raises that limit, more families would become eligible, she said. About 126,000 women in the district already benefit from BISP, and nearly 152,000 children receive assistance under the relevant programme, according to BISP Director General Sanaullah Rind. BISP offices operate in all seven tehsils of Tharparkar.

How the payments will be made

Beneficiaries are being geo-tagged and digital wallet accounts are being opened for them, Khalid said. Six banks have been authorised to make the payments, so families should be able to collect the money through the banking system rather than through informal intermediaries.

A dedicated control centre will be set up at the Deputy Commissioner's office so beneficiaries' problems can be resolved quickly. Khalid warned of strict action against anyone involved in illegal deductions or financial irregularities, and said an accountability process had begun on complaints received. She said no one involved in corruption would be spared, and urged stakeholders not to politicise the programme.

Khalid said the programme was not charity but financial assistance aimed at reducing the economic difficulties of vulnerable families. She also said more than 60 million people across Pakistan benefit from BISP, about 12 million children receive Kafalat-related assistance, and 2.2 million women are supported under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme.

Why Tharparkar needs the help

The aid follows the Sindh government's decision on 7 November to declare Tharparkar a calamity-hit district, after drought destroyed most of its crops. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered urgent steps on drinking water, livestock and relief at a meeting in Karachi.

Officials told the chief minister that all seven talukas of the district were facing drought-like conditions, with between 85 and 90 per cent of crops either destroyed or rendered unproductive. The Agriculture Extension Department estimated overall crop losses at about 90 per cent.

Rainfall during the 2026 monsoon season had been uneven. Although seasonal totals ranged between 181 and 273 millimetres across the seven talukas, September rainfall remained particularly low, ranging from just 1 to 36 millimetres. The chief minister directed that non-functional reverse osmosis plants be repaired and restored on a priority basis, and asked the chief secretary to assess the feasibility of a dedicated water supply line from Naukot to Mithi.

Khalid also met elected representatives and district officials to review the drought and the problems beneficiaries face, including illegal deductions and irregularities by payment device operators. Several senators, MNAs and MPAs attended, along with Mirpurkhas Division Commissioner Shamir Khan Bhutto and Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Haleem Jageerani.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for the extra Tharparkar aid? Families with a poverty score below 32, according to BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid. A survey of eligible people has been completed, and the limit could be raised to include more families.

How will families be paid? Through six authorised banks, with beneficiaries geo-tagged and digital wallet accounts opened for them. The aid comes on top of existing BISP payments.

Where can beneficiaries complain? A dedicated control centre is being set up at the Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner's office to handle complaints, including about illegal deductions.

Sources: khabr.pk and Abb Takk News.