LAHORE-Waseela-e-Haq draw of BISP scheme is attracting a number of new applicants all over the country to take benefit from Federal governments financial support scheme and thousands of people are lining up for applying to Benazir Income Support Programme. It is going to be a big test for the government whether it has enough funds for new applicants who are on the rush for the scheme in view of a chance of winning Rs 300,000 through random draw of the scheme. Owing to mounting pressure of price-hike and economic compulsions more and more people are opting for BISP despite the fact that Rs 2,000 cheques after two months make no difference in their financial conditions. Many families who could not apply for the Benazir Income Support Programme due to non-availability of form or CNIC or lack of knowledge are now turning more enthusiastic about being part of the random draw of Rs 300,000 for any of BSIP beneficiaries. Earlier, BISP beneficiaries had been demanding that the government should raise Rs 2,000 amount to Rs 5,000 because Rs 2,000 after two months is of no help due to price-hike. It is learnt that under the scheme 731 families (women), which are selected monthly from amongst BISP beneficiaries through a monthly draw, get Rs 300,000 each. The draw is aimed at enabling them start some self-employment project. The BISP currently has 2.2 million beneficiaries which are divided in 731 clusters and each cluster contains 3000 families. In first draw of BISP Waseela-e-Haq Scheme held on Sep 15 2009 731 won Rs 300,000 each from all over Pakistan, in the 2nd held on October 28 2009 747 women won Rs 300,000 each, and in the in the 3rd draw on Dec 2009 789 got Rs 300,000 each and in the 4th draw 762 beneficiaries got Rs 300,000. A number of citizens told The Nation that in view of rising price hike Rs 2000 after two months is of little help but no one refuses to take when it is coming from the govt. However, the draw system is worth changing fortune with Rs 300,000 funds for starting any small business for a poor woman. They said the vote bank and support for PPP is increasing with the programe and similarly people are becoming more and more interested to apply for the BISP so that they may also get chance in the random draw. Hajra Bibi a resident of Kot Lakhpat told The Nation that she did not apply last year when a few other women in her neighbourhood took forms as she thought Rs 2000 after a gap of two month is not worth applying and falling in the lists of Zakat takers. However, she said now she was thinking to get forms if possible from MPA or MNA of her constituency. She said name of one of her relatives came in the random draw and got Rs 300,000. The people at large also expressed some serious doubts about the success or utility of the government BISP scheme saying 'it is like giving drops to the thirsty people in the shape of few thousand help money. They said it is available to only a selected beneficiaries while the rest of the masses are suffering at the hands of price-hike that has gone out of the control of the government. People, however, have opposed the condition that widows should also return the money by running some business. They say all women do not have the ability to start any business and return Rs 300,000 even in easy instalment. BISP Chairperson Farzana Raja told The Nation that through Waseela-e-Haq programme the government aims at bringing socio-economic upgradation of the people.