Rubina Khalid emphasizes the critical importance of economic empowerment as the foundation for all forms of empowerment

ISLAMABAD, June 25 (SABAH): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid has emphasized the critical importance of economic empowerment as the foundation for all forms of empowerment. She highlighted Benazir Income Support Programme’s initiative to provide technical skills to its beneficiaries, aiming to lift them out of poverty. Senator Rubina Khalid conveyed these views during a meeting with Mr. Amjad Zafar, Team Lead at the World Bank, and Mr. Gul Najam Jamy, held today at BISP headquarters.

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme pointed out the global demand for human resource development, stressing the need to implement a Poverty Graduation Programme focused on women empowerment. She noted Benazir Income Support Programme’s strong working relationship with the World Bank and underscored the necessity of further strengthening this collaboration.

In addition, Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted the importance of adopting a new payment mechanism with the support of the World Bank to ensure transparency. She also emphasized the need to improve financial literacy among women beneficiaries. She reaffirmed the political leadership’s directive that every Benazir Income Support Programme beneficiary must receive their full stipend amount without any deductions, and with complete respect and honor.

The World Bank team assured their complete technical support in these initiatives and confirmed their availability for a follow-up meeting within the week to present their proposed payment model system for BISP beneficiaries.

Earlier in the day, Vice Chairperson of Punjab Social Protection (PSP), Ms. Jahan Ara Watto, also met Senator Rubina Khalid. Ms. Jahan Ara Watto expressed her appreciation for the Benazir Income Support Programme database, which PSP has been utilizing for its education and health related projects. She highlighted the value of the Benazir Income Support Programme database in effectively reaching the targeted beneficiaries.

Rubina Khalid emphasized the importance of collaboration between Benazir Income Support Programme and Punjab Social Protection to ensure the welfare of the poor and to avoid duplication of efforts between federal and provincial government initiatives.