Senator Rubina Khalid lauds Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s support in enhancing maternal & child health initiatives

ISLAMABAD, August 20 (SABAH): Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), has commended the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its pivotal role in the success of the Nashonuma Conditional Cash Transfer program.

During a meeting on Tuesday with Dr. Anita Zaidi from the Foundation at the BISP Headquarters, Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the ongoing partnership between BISP and the Foundation in advancing maternal and child health initiatives in Pakistan.

The meeting brought together key figures, including Syed Ali Mehmood, Country Lead; Sharjeel Murtaza, Chief Digital Officer, Karandaaz; Taimoor Ali, Head of DFS; Ms. Samia Ali, Gender Lead; Usman Kokab Khan, Associate Director of Digital Transformation, among others.

Dr. Anita Zaidi and Syed Ali Mehmood proposed innovative strategies to encourage hospital births by incentivizing women, and leveraging RAAST for secure digital payments to beneficiaries. Senator Rubina Khalid appreciated the proposed idea and acknowledged the challenge of ensuring transparent payments to women beneficiaries without compromising their dignity, stating, “BISP is committed to addressing this challenge and is actively consulting with the State Bank of Pakistan to adopt a transparent payment mechanism.”

The discussion also touched on the importance of raising awareness about digital and financial literacy among BISP beneficiaries. Senator Rubina Khalid reaffirmed BISP’s dedication to working closely with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on critical issues such as family planning, female health, and education in Pakistan.

In addition to health initiatives, Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted BISP’s skill training programs, which aim to enhance the well-being of beneficiary families by providing demand-driven, quality certifications to help them secure better employment opportunities abroad.

Dr. Anita Zaidi, representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reiterated the Foundation’s unwavering support for BISP’s Maternal Nutrition Strategy and related health interventions, assuring continued collaboration in these essential areas.