Shazia Atta Marri shares climate crisis challenges & social protection efforts at Global Forum

BERLIN, June 15 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Atta Marri delivered a speech at the closing session of the “Global Forum on Adaptive Social Protection: Protecting lives and livelihoods in times of crisis” held in Berlin.

Shazia Marri expressed gratitude to the government of Germany, specifically Minister Schulz, and other partners, including the World Bank and GIZ, for organizing the event. She acknowledged the vulnerability of Pakistan to climate shocks, citing recent devastating floods and the ongoing threat of a cyclone hitting the country and neighboring India.

The closing session was moderated by Ms. Conny Czymoch, Independent international moderator and journalist. Other speakers, inter alia, included Ms. Svenja Schulze Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ; Ms. Esther Schüring, Social Protection Advisor, GIZ; Colin Andrews, Program Manager, World Bank; El Hadji Ndiogou Diouf.

In her talk to the audience, Minister Shazia Marri shed light on the climate vulnerability faced by Pakistan. The country has experienced devastating floods in the past, including in 2010, 2011, 2022, and most recently this year. During the recent floods, approximately 33 million people were displaced, with 6000 pregnant women directly affected. However, the incumbent government, through the Benazir Income Support Programme, successfully distributed cash assistance to those affected by the recent floods.

Highlighting the significance of coordination, Minister Shazia Marri emphasized that BISP is working closely with provincial setups on social safety initiatives to maximize the benefits provided to the targeted segments of society. She expressed willingness to share Pakistan’s experiences with the representatives of the 58 countries present at the forum, showcasing the country’s commitment to global collaboration for social protection.

Furthermore, Minister Marri informed the audience about the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER), which serves as a comprehensive database of over 35 million households in Pakistan. The NSER enables BISP to gather essential data and add layers of information to enhance the targeting of beneficiaries, ensuring that adoptive social protection programme is more effectively tailored to the needs of the potential beneficiaries. Adaptive Social Protection is the way forward to deal with all sorts of shocks.

In conclusion, Minister Marri expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share Pakistan’s experiences and achievements at the Global Forum. She reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis and advocated for international collaboration to protect vulnerable nations from the impacts of climate change.