Conference on Social Protection and Emergency Safety Net Response was arranged by World Bank at Frankfurt (Germany) from 19th to 22nd February 2018. Minister for State and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Ms. Marvi Memon represented Pakistan. Delegates from 70 countries attended the workshop and shared their experiences on social protection. She highlighted the efforts of Government of Pakistan in social safety net programs. Chairperson while briefing the forum said that Pakistan is among the top 10 adversely impacted countries of the climate change as evidenced by several earthquakes, floods and droughts. Moreover, Due to militancy crises in FATA, Pakistan also has a large number of Temporarily Displaced Persons who are being supported by the Government, she added. In case of disasters, BISP already managing a social protection program for 5.4 Million families living below the poverty line expands vertically and provides extended support to existing beneficiaries, being poorest of the poor. As BISP is well equipped with required infrastructure, have complete beneficiary database the Socio Economic Registry which includes beneficiary biometrics, a veteran financial instrument used in BISP cash transfers and more than 450 functional offices in the country with 2500 experienced staff members, it has the capacity to respond to beneficiary needs more efficiently and swiftly. Having updated Socio Economic Registry of the citizen’s of Pakistan, BISP has the capacity of advanced targeting. It has the aptitude to exclude well-off and embrace vulnerable families including poor, female headed households and families with disable members. She informed that through BISP, Government has empowered female in the country by providing direct support to the female head of families. This has also been appreciated by Government of United Kingdom where BISP has been awarded Democracy Award. She further informed, the participants that in order to address the catastrophic events, a National Disaster Response Action Plan (NDRAP) was developed by Government of Pakistan which guides country’s adaptive safety net model on natural and man-made disastrous. This helps the Government to respond quickly to any disaster and address the needs of the affected population. Pakistan has been appreciated in handling refugees. In future both BISP and NADRA enter into partnership for effective shock responsiveness. The Chairperson also highlighted the efforts of Government of Pakistan in addressing the emergency needs of Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) of FATA with the help of World Bank through a transparent mechanism. She also highlighted the steps taken by the Government for the rehabilitation of TDPs by providing housing damage compensation to affected families. Vice President World Bank, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany, Minister for Social Protection Egypt and Member from Government of Pakistan also addressed the forum. ***
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