Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive development, poverty reduction and economic empowerment of vulnerable communities in Balochistan, stressing the importance of engaging young people as active partners in the province’s development.
Imran Shah reviews social protection initiatives for Balochistan, highlights youth empowerment
ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive development, poverty reduction and economic empowerment of vulnerable communities in Balochistan, stressing the importance of engaging young people as active partners in the province’s development.
He expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of young people led by the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), which called on him in Islamabad to discuss social protection initiatives, poverty alleviation measures and opportunities for youth and disadvantaged communities in the province.
Held under the vision of “A Prosperous Balochistan, A Strong Pakistan,” the meeting focused on strengthening institutional cooperation and ensuring equal access to economic opportunities for the people of Balochistan.
The minister outlined various initiatives being implemented through the Ministry’s attached departments and partner institutions to improve the living conditions of vulnerable segments of society.
He said Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) had established four Sweet Homes in Quetta, Turbat, Zhob and Kharan to support orphaned children. In addition, 22 Women Empowerment Centres were providing vocational training to 6,976 women, while 14 Schools for Rehabilitation of Child Labour were offering educational opportunities to 1,710 children.
He added that PBM had spent Rs5.10 billion in Balochistan over the past decade, including Rs2.10 billion recently, while 4,862 individuals had received financial assistance during the tenure of the current government.
Highlighting the contribution of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Shah said various initiatives were being implemented in underdeveloped areas to improve access to vocational training, clean drinking water, water filtration facilities, solar energy and community infrastructure.
During the current government’s tenure, 18 projects had been implemented across 22 districts, benefiting approximately five million people, 49 per cent of whom were women.
The minister also highlighted the role of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in providing financial assistance to deserving families across the province. Since its launch in 2008, the programme has disbursed Rs114.859 billion in Balochistan.
He said more than 471,000 deserving households were covered under the programme, with 509,809 beneficiaries enrolled in Benazir Kafaalat, 655,432 children registered under Benazir Taleemi Wazaif and 153,915 beneficiaries receiving support through Benazir Nashonuma.
To improve access to registration and other services, 18 of BISP’s 25 Mobile Registration Vehicles were operational in Balochistan, alongside 48 field and tehsil offices across the province.
Shah further highlighted the National Poverty Graduation Programme (NPGP), under which 370,567 households in 21 underdeveloped districts had received assistance to improve their livelihoods and achieve greater economic self-reliance.
He also referred to the Poverty Graduation and Economic Empowerment Programme (PGEP), supported by the Islamic Development Bank with an allocation of US$134.2 million. The initiative covers 12 districts of Balochistan among 20 selected districts nationwide and aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households.
Emphasising the importance of youth participation, the minister said young people could play a transformative role in Balochistan’s development, given the province’s considerable human and economic potential. He reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen social protection systems, promote skills development and expand economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
He appreciated BRSP’s contribution to community mobilisation and youth engagement, calling for stronger coordination among federal institutions, development partners and local communities to achieve sustainable development objectives.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to promoting inclusive development, empowering marginalised communities and building a more prosperous and economically resilient Balochistan.
