Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, participated in a roundtable titled “Delivering Social Protection Digitally: Lessons and Innovations from Pakistan, Middle East and North Africa,” organized by the World Bank, on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C.
The roundtable featured presentations on two interconnected themes: Pakistan’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) journey and the digital transformation of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Opening the session, the Finance Minister drew a compelling parallel between COVID-19, described as the largest demand shock in recent history, and the ongoing Middle East conflict, which he characterized as the largest supply shock. He noted that countries that invested early in governance and technology were better positioned during COVID-19, and that Pakistan is now reaping similar dividends from its digital infrastructure as it navigates the current energy supply shock.
The Finance Minister highlighted that targeted digital subsidies for two-wheelers, public transport, and small farmers are being disbursed seamlessly through an established digital payments ecosystem already in place.
His key message was that digital social protection is not merely a payment mechanism, but a vehicle for financial inclusion and economic empowerment. By enabling beneficiaries, particularly women, to access formal bank accounts and transact digitally, Pakistan is building the foundation for long-term economic participation and greater documentation of the informal economy.
