BISP supports around nine million households: Marri

BISP is an ideal model of social protection that should be emulated in other parts of the world, says minister

Federal Minister and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Shazia Marri has said that cash assistance initiatives of the programme provide financial support to around nine million households.

The minister was participating at the closing session of the "Global Forum on Adaptive Social Protection: Protecting lives and livelihoods in times of crisis" in Berlin, Germany.

She said the programme greatly contributed towards uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the improvised and economically marginalized segments of society, particularly women

"BISP is an ideal model of social protection that should be emulated in other parts of the world as well, particularly in developing nations."

Marri expressed gratitude to the government of Germany, specifically Minister Schulz, and other partners, including the World Bank and German Development Partner GIZ, for hosting an event on such an important subject.

She acknowledged Pakistan's vulnerability to climate hazards, citing the examples of last year's devastating floods and the ongoing threat of a cyclone Biparjoy.

In her talk, the minister 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 last year."

"Approximately 33 million people were displaced, with 6000 pregnant women directly affected due to flood 2022, she said,  however, our coalition government, through the Benazir Income Support Programme, disbursed a cash assistance of over Rs 70 billion among 2.8 million families affected by these floods," she added.

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 extended to the marginalised and poorest segments of society.

She expressed her government's willingness to share experiences with the representatives of the 58 countries present at the forum, showcasing the country's commitment to global collaboration for social protection.