Islamabad: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) organized a South-South Cooperation event in Islamabad, led by BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid. The conference welcomed representatives from Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Senegal, alongside international organizations including the World Bank, World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and GIZ. These delegates were on a study tour with BISP from November 11 to 14 to explore BISP’s social protection strategies aimed at marginalized communities.

According to Press Information Department, Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the significance of the study tour, highlighting the mutual benefits of knowledge exchange between Pakistan and the participating countries for socio-economic upliftment. She reiterated BISP’s commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged communities through initiatives such as Benazir Kafalat, Taleemi Wazaif, and Nashonuma programs. Senator Rubina Khalid stated that these efforts align with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and were initiated in 2008 by then-President Asif Ali Zardari.

Secretary BISP, Amer Ali Ahmad, expressed gratitude towards international development partners like the World Bank, ADB, WFP, and UNICEF for their support in enhancing education, health, and payment services for BISP beneficiaries. He noted that BISP aims to economically empower 9.3 million families across Pakistan, selected based on socio-economic needs, and is recognized globally as a role model in social protection.

During the ceremony, various international delegates, including Mr. Redouwane Mohamed Ali from Mali, Mr. Amedee Bamouni from Burkina Faso, and Ms. Kinday Samba from WFP Niger, applauded the historic event and lauded BISP’s contributions to women’s empowerment, national databases, and health initiatives. The event underscored BISP’s role in fostering digital and financial literacy and its efforts to create dynamic registry centers and monitoring systems.