BISP striving to address vulnerability, empower women through financial assistance: Shazia Marri

ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (SABAH): Ms. Shazia Atta Marri, Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has said that the Government of Pakistan through BISP is striving to address vulnerability of women by empowering them through income support to poorest of the poor families.

This she said in a meeting with Dr. Luay Shabaneh, representative of United Nations Fund for Population-UNFPA in Islamabad on Tuesday. Secretary Ministry of Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Ghufran Memon and Secretary BISP Yusuf Khan also attended the meeting.

Ms. Shazia Marri while briefing the UNFPA Representative on BISP’s initiatives said that this income support programme was started in 2008 and it is now extending an annolual Ra 28000/_ financial support on Rs 7000/- quarterly installments basis to around 9 Million families. She said that the government has decided to increase this amount of income support by 25%, that is, now quarterly installment will be Rs. 9000.

Chairperson BISP further briefed Dr. Shabaneh about other initiatives including Benazir Nashonuma under which the government extends help mothers and child with nutrition right from pregnancy and child up to two years age. She also briefed on Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme under which 9 Million children are getting funds and this has helped to increase enrolment and addressed the dropout issue.

Dr Luay Shabaneh appreciated Ms. Shazia Marri for her commitment towards marginalized and underprivileged segments of the society, especially women through providing them a comprehensive social protection net. He acknowledged that the vision and interests of BISP are closely associated with UNFPA and hoped to build a strategic partnership under the leadership of Chairperson BISP. He highlighted many goals of UNFPA, like,  i) ending preventable maternal deaths, ii) ending the unmet needs for family planning, iii) ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. He highlighted efforts of gender equality and said that UNFPA would be happy to work with BISP to achieve these goals.

At the end of the meeting Chairperson BISP and UNFPA representative agreed to find ways work together towards achieving the shared objective of poverty alleviation and extending to fabric of social safety.