BISP empowered women financially and politically by introducing
the pre-condition of having valid CNICs to be eligible for financial assistance
of BISP. It is imperative that the conditions of birth registration forms,
vaccination and steps against malnutrition may be put in place for
Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program to bring health revolution and to
curb menace of malnutrition, stunting and low IQ levels among beneficiary
children. This was stated by Minister of
State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon during a meeting with a team of World Bank, the development partner of BISP, led
by Stefano Paternostro
Practice Manager, Social Protection and Jobs, South Asia Region at BISP
headquarters today.
Other participants
of the meeting included Secretary BISP Omar Hamid Khan, Iftikhar Malik,
Amjad Zafar Khan Senior Social Protection Specialist, Ms. Yoonyoung Cho Senior
Economist, Syud Amer Ahmed, Senior Economist, Ali Qureshi from World Bank and
senior officials of BISP.
The purpose of the
meeting was to discuss the progress of various ongoing initiatives of BISP and
the design and implementation of new interventions aimed at expanding the scope
of the programme for the welfare of BISP beneficiaries.
During the meeting,
BISP team gave briefing on national Roll out of BISP resurvey for National
Socio Economic Registry (NSER) update, enrollment of 1.7 million children in
primary schools in 32 districts under Waseela-e-Taleem and plan for its
expansion to 18 more districts in March 2018, conversion of payment mechanism
to Biometric Verification System (BVS) in 43 districts and plans of countrywide
conversion to BVS.
Secretary BISP
highlighted the importance of Graduation strategy and reiterated that it was
high time for BISP to adopt a Graduation model so that beneficiaries may be
pulled out of poverty by making them self sufficient through skill development and entrepreneurship. He pointed out that two Graduation models were under consideration which included
ADB funded Models and Harvard-MIT-LSC Model. ADB funded Models included
Comprehensive Coaching Model and Inclusive Business Model while Direct Cash
Transfer Model was part of Harvard-MIT-LSC Model.
Mr. Stefano Paternostro appreciated the progress of BISP initiatives and
stated that BISP is one of the priority programs of World Bank and they were
very keen on to expand the social protection agenda in Pakistan for the welfare
of the underprivileged. He ensured that World Bank, being development partner
of BISP and having global experience of social protection, would continue
providing assistance and expertise in the progress of ongoing initiatives and
in the design and implementation of new interventions.
