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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP):In a significant development underscoring Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its social safety net, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Joint Review Mission visited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Headquarters today to assess progress on the Integrated Social Protection Development Program (ISPDP) and its Additional Financing (AF).
The visit marked a renewed commitment to deepening collaboration on initiatives that directly support millions of vulnerable families across the country.
Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid and Secretary Amer Ali Ahmad warmly received the delegation and praised ADB’s continued role in reinforcing Pakistan’s social protection systems.
Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the centrality of the National Socioeconomic Registry (NSER), describing it as a highly sensitive, national-level database that all provinces must recognize and utilize responsibly.
She noted that BISP’s services are provided strictly on the basis of need, without discrimination of ethnicity, language, province, or political affiliation, and proposed joint dashboards with provincial governments to ensure secure and efficient data-sharing while maintaining robust data protection standards.
Highlighting BISP’s key initiatives, the Chairperson shared that 11 million children are currently enrolled under the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme.
She added that provinces, in consultation with BISP, can assume greater roles in education and health sectors, especially in areas where BISP services are not yet available.
Future avenues of cooperation with ADB were also discussed, with both sides expressing interest in expanding work on human resource development through skill-building programmes, strengthening awareness and outreach efforts, and designing climate resilience and asset transfer initiatives to support marginalized communities.
ADB Mission Leaders Ms. Xin Long (virtually) and Co-Mission Leader & Principal Public Sector Specialist Mr. Laisiasa Tora commended BISP for its strong commitment, institutional determination, and continued progress. They reaffirmed ADB’s sustained cooperation and productive partnership with BISP.
The meeting was attended by ADB officials including Mr. Mansoor Ali Masood, Senior Project Officer; Mr. Fayyaz Khan, Project Officer (Education); Mr. Charles Felix Simbillo, Associate Project Officer; Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, TA Team Leader/NSPS; and Mr. Noman Ali, Program Implementation Specialist. From BISP, Additional Secretary Dr. Asmat Nawaz and all Director Generals participated and contributed to the discussions.