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ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (APP):In a significant step toward expanding high-tech employment opportunities for low-income households, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) on Tuesday moved closer to a formal partnership aimed at training beneficiaries as Electric Vehicle (EV) technicians under the recently launched Benazir Hunarmand Programme.
Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid met Managing Director OPF Mohammed Afzaal Bhatti to discuss a collaborative framework focused on advanced skill development, overseas job placements, and industry-driven training. The initiative is designed to equip BISP beneficiaries with emerging technologies, particularly EV maintenance, pening pathways to both domestic and international employment.
Senator Rubina Khalid briefed the OPF delegation on the objectives of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, inaugurated by President Asif Ali Zardari, which seeks to uplift beneficiary families through modern, market-relevant skills.
She highlighted BISP’s ongoing partnerships with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, NAVTTC, and provincial TEVTAs to deliver vocational training aligned with industry needs.
MD OPF Afzaal Bhatti commended BISP’s forward-looking approach and shared that the OPF Board has already approved the establishment of two EV technician training centres.
He offered dedicated training slots for beneficiaries registered on the Benazir Hunarmand Portal, assuring full support in certifying them for jobs that are rapidly expanding worldwide.
Recognizing the global demand for EV-related skills, Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the need for a focused national strategy. “We need to guide, train, and connect our workforce with the right platforms. Skill development is essential to addressing today’s economic challenges,” she remarked.
EV consultant Azhar Hashmi, accompanying the OPF MD, expressed interest in helping shape a structured skills-to-employment pipeline for EV technicians.
Both sides agreed to work on a joint framework for training, certification, and overseas placement, ensuring that BISP beneficiaries can secure safe, sustainable, and future-ready livelihoods in the growing EV sector.