Minister of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon visited
BISP Tehsil Office Renala Khurd today and held meetings with Nestle Pakistan
Team, BISP officials and beneficiaries. The purpose of the visit was to spot
check the livelihood opportunities provided to beneficiaries and progress of
implementation plan for nutrition awareness campaign launched by BISP and
Nestlé Pakistan in the wake of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed between BISP and Nestlé Pakistan earlier this year.
In the pilot phase of this partnership, Nestlé Pakistan is
providing livelihood opportunities to BISP beneficiaries in Renala Khurd. As
per MoU, the beneficiaries will act as Sales Agents on behalf of Nestlé
Pakistan and will be responsible for door-to-door sales of Popularly
Positioned Products (PPPs) within the community as a large portion of
Pakistan’s population suffers from deficiencies in key micro-nutrients of
Iron, zinc, vitamin A and D. PPPs are affordable, nutritious and high quality
products. Nestlé Pakistan will also build the nutrition knowledge of BISP beneficiaries
by conducting nutrition awareness seminars.
On the occasion, Dr. Adnan Mushtaq, Rural Development
Manager of Nestle Pakistan informed Chairperson BISP that in the last 3 months,
Nestle selected 28 beneficiaries who are acting as sales agents of Nestle after
getting training. These beneficiaries would provide training to other
beneficiaries as well. He added that they have made sales up to Rs. 10,000,00
by selling various PPPs including Nestle milk, water, cerelac and juices. 10
percent of each beneficiary's total sale is the income of that
beneficiary.
Chairperson BISP expressed her happiness over the business
potential of beneficiaries and urged other beneficiaries to get inspiration
from them. She discussed with Nesle Pakistan team to scale up the number of
beneficiaries in the current as well as in the next phase which would be
launched in Thatha, Larkana and Pindi Bhatian.
The Minister said that BISP is leading war on malnutrition in the
country not only by providing financial assistance to its beneficiaries but
also by partnering with such organizations. She added that our understanding
with Nestlé Pakistan is a step in the right direction under our poverty
graduation strategy. In addition to better livelihood opportunities, the
products sold by them will be key for reducing malnutrition in the country
which is BISP’s key empowerment output and goal and as a result Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) will be better served.
The Minister stressed other Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs)
like Unilever Pakistan, Engro Foods, P&G Pakistan etc as well to provide
employment opportunities to BISP families. She stated that following the
business model of Nestle Pakistan, they can also use BISP workforce and hire
beneficiary women as sales agents which would increase their sales at grass
root level besides helping poor women.
Later on, Chairperson BISP visited a beneficiary Razia Bibi who
runs a shop at her house in Village 21-2-L and sells PPPs. The Chairperson
discussed various aspects of malnutrition with her and made her understand that
the use of nutritious food items results into better IQ levels of children
which ultimately help them in better education and better employment
opportunities. The Minister bought some products from Razia Bibi as well in order
to encourage her in pursuing better livelihood opportunities.
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