Asian Development Bank determined to help Pakistan in increasing cash transfer to needy families through BISP: Country Director ADB Yong Ye

ISLAMABAD, Oct 28 (SABAH): The recent floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, many lost their homes, jobs, and businesses, large number of cattle and crops are devastated, tens of thousands people are still homeless and ADB will continue to assist Pakistan to help flood affected people, said Yong Ye the Country Director Pakistan for Asian Development Bank.

Yong Ye, in a video message, said that now flood water is subsiding, infectious diseases and severe food shortages are looming, and in this situation ADB has moved swiftly to support Pakistan’s flood response through immediate relief, early recovery, and reconstruction assistance. He said that recently approved $1.5 billion BRACE program will provide much-needed support to expand social protection and food security coverage to mitigate the impacts of rising food prices and loss of livelihood.

Country Director ADB appreciated BISP’s ongoing Prime Minister Cash Relief in calamity-hit/flood affected areas and said its a good example that BISP has quickly disbursed more than Rs. 66 billion out of a Rs. 70 billion package announced by the Government of Pakistan. “This is proving to be a timely and great help to affected families during the relief and early recovery stage, before the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects kick in” he said.

“ADB’s assistance will not only help enhance the number of families receiving cash transfers, but will also increase the number of children enrolled in primary and secondary schools and expend geographic coverage of health services and nutritional supplies through the Benazir Income Support Program” he added, and further said that ADB will continue to support BISP to make it a more efficient, shock responsive social protection agency.

Youg Ye said that the transition of the BISP database, the National Socio-Economic Registry, from a static to dynamic registry, has enabled the government of Pakistan to rapidly identify and connect with the affected families.

Country Director ADB quoted BISP’s ongoing Prime Minister Cash Relief in calamity-hit/flood affected areas and said it’s a good example that BISP has quickly disbursed more than Rupees 66 billion out of a Rupees 70 billion package announced by the government. “This is proving to be a timely and great help to affected families during the relief and early recovery stage, before the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects kick in” he said.

Yong Ye assured ADB’s and other international agencies commitment to work closely with the Government of Pakistan to help and rebuild lives and livelihoods of the people affected by this climate-triggered disaster.