Islamabad: A World Bank and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office implementation support mission praised the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for effectively achieving its objectives for the first half of 2024. The mission, which focuses on the Crisis Resilient Social Protection project, recognized BISP’s success in meeting milestones across various social initiatives, including improvements in health, nutrition, and education.

According to Press Information Department, the World Bank mission, led by Senior Social Protection Specialist Amjad Zafar Khan, visited BISP headquarters. The team, including Melis U. Guven, Lead Economist, and Zaineb Majoka, Economist, provided their findings at a meeting with BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid and Secretary Amer Ali Ahmad. Amjad Zafar Khan confirmed that the programme achieved all its set targets for January to June 2024, with notable progress in its Social Registry, Biometric Payment Systems, and Hybrid Social Protection Schemes.

Chairperson Rubina Khalid thanked the World Bank for its continuous support and detailed assessment of BISP’s performance. She highlighted the efforts to enhance awareness of new initiatives among beneficiaries and the expansion of outreach at the Union Council level to improve communication and mobilization. Melis U. Guven also commended BISP’s role as a benchmark for other developing nations looking to implement robust social protection measures.