Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah Monday reiterated the government commitment to expand Pakistan’s social protection system and empower vulnerable communities through market-oriented skills development, women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Imran Shah reaffirms govt commitment to expand social protection, empower vulnerable communities
ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah Monday reiterated the government commitment to expand Pakistan’s social protection system and empower vulnerable communities through market-oriented skills development, women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
He expressed these views while talking to a high-level delegation of the New York Chamber of Small Business Corporation, USA, and members of the Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who called on him to discuss Pakistan’s social protection initiatives, poverty alleviation, humanitarian work, skills development and avenues for future collaboration.
The delegation was led by Bishop Abraham Nazir Daniel and Founder of the New York Chamber of Small Business Corporation Alamdar Hussain Shah. It comprised professionals from journalism, pharmacy, law, education, business and social development, along with representatives of the Chamber’s chapters in New York, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Welcoming the delegation, the minister said the government, under the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, is working to build an inclusive and sustainable social protection system. He said the ministry is considering changing its name to the “Ministry of Social Security” in line with internationally accepted terminology to better reflect its mandate.
Additional Secretary Sumaira Samad briefed the delegation on the ministry’s mandate since its establishment in 2019. She said the ministry was created to bring Pakistan’s social protection and social safety programmes under one umbrella, ensure effective coordination with the provinces, avoid duplication of efforts and create greater synergy in service delivery.
She informed the delegation that the ministry oversees four key organisations: the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) and the Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO).
The delegation was informed that BISP’s evidence-based National Socio-Economic Registry underpins the government’s unconditional cash transfer, nutrition and social welfare programmes.
The minister said the government is committed to expanding the Unconditional Cash Transfer programme beyond its existing coverage of 10.2 million beneficiary families, adding that its allocation has been increased to Rs838 billion in the current financial year to extend support to more deserving households.
Emphasising sustainable poverty reduction, the minister said the government’s vision is not merely to provide financial assistance but to empower people with the skills to become self-reliant. He said 165 Women Empowerment Centres are being modernised to align their training with market needs and memorandums of understanding will be signed with relevant institutions to strengthen market-driven skills development.
He also stressed the importance of mainstreaming women into the national economy through enhanced employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities.
The delegation was also briefed on PPAF’s initiatives in adaptive climate resilience and interest-free lending, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal’s welfare programmes, including Women Empowerment Centres, orphanages, Senior Citizens’ Recreation Centres, financial assistance for deserving families and food kitchens, as well as TVO’s role in strengthening civil society organisations.
The meeting was informed that the IFAD-supported National Poverty Graduation Programme has been completed and succeeded by the World Bank-supported Pakistan Graduation of Extremely Poor (PGEP), which focuses on sustainable livelihoods through interest-free loans and targets the poorest and climate-vulnerable districts, particularly 12 districts of Balochistan, five districts in Sindh and three districts of the merged areas, in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of “Khushal Balochistan, Mazboot Pakistan.”
Speaking about the education sector, the minister said Pakistan continues to face the challenge of around 28 million out-of-school children.
He said the government is promoting school enrolment through initiatives such as Taleemi Wazaif and Schools for Rehabilitation of Child Labour (SRCLs), adding that 12.8 million out-of-school children have been enrolled under the Taleemi Wazaif programme.
He emphasised that beneficiary families are encouraged to ensure regular school attendance of their children to secure a better future.
The delegation appreciated the Government of Pakistan’s efforts in poverty alleviation, humanitarian assistance and social welfare and presented souvenirs to the minister on behalf of different chapters of the Chamber.
Both sides agreed to explore collaboration in skills development, vocational training, women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, social enterprise, private sector partnerships, investment promotion, market linkages and capacity building.
The delegation also expressed its willingness to facilitate international business connections, knowledge exchange and investment opportunities through its global network to support Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
