First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari visited the headquarters of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in Islamabad and chaired a meeting to review its initiatives for poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, financial inclusion and skills development. Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid and Secretary BISP Amer Ali Ahmad briefed her on the programme’s achievements and ongoing initiatives.
The First Lady appreciated BISP’s role in supporting vulnerable families and advancing women’s empowerment. She emphasised financial literacy and public awareness to help beneficiaries make informed financial decisions and access their entitled assistance with dignity and transparency. She called for stronger grievance redressal mechanisms, exploring collaboration with Lady Health Workers to expand community outreach, and greater use of social and digital media to raise awareness about BISP’s programmes and services. She assured BISP of her full support in advancing its initiatives.
Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted BISP’s economic impact, citing a World Bank study indicating that every rupee spent through the programme generates an estimated PKR 2.34 in real income. BISP supports approximately 1.66 million full-time equivalent jobs, two-thirds in rural areas, while economic activity generated through the programme is estimated to contribute PKR 174 billion annually to the national exchequer.
The First Lady was briefed on the Benazir Hunarmand Program, under which more than 50,000 people have registered for market-relevant skills training linked to employment and self-employment. Training covers information technology, healthcare, hospitality and construction, with support from development partners, including the Asian Development Bank and GIZ.
She also reviewed skills training delivered through the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research and Development Board in collaboration with the Government of Sindh. More than 5,000 individuals have received training, with over 1,200 securing employment.
Secretary BISP briefed the First Lady on the Social Protection Wallet initiative, under which 9.7 million SIMs had been activated and 9.3 million beneficiaries had conducted transactions through CNIC-linked digital wallets. He highlighted biometric authentication and a two-tier verification system to strengthen payment transparency and financial inclusion.
He also briefed the First Lady on BISP’s expanding media outreach. Between September 2024 and October 2026, the programme’s Facebook following grew from approximately 501,000 to 1.4 million, alongside increased engagement on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
The First Lady inspected a BISP Mobile Registration Van and was shown its various sections and facilities. She was briefed on the van’s functioning, including its registration process, equipment and services designed to facilitate beneficiaries in accessing BISP services, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
She was also briefed on beneficiary recertification, support for persons with disabilities, the inclusion of previously underserved groups, education incentives and family well-being initiatives. The removal of the ever-married condition was highlighted as an important step towards extending support to previously excluded women.
Senator Rubina Khalid mentioned President Asif Ali Zardari’s vision in establishing BISP and advancing women’s inclusion in the national identity system. She recalled that, in 2008, President Zardari directed that women seeking to become BISP beneficiaries should possess Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). This initiative helped bring millions of previously undocumented women into the national identity system and strengthened their access to social protection and public services.
She also highlighted the expansion of digital payments as a major step towards financial inclusion and underscored the role of skills development in creating sustainable livelihoods and pathways to economic independence for beneficiary families.
During her visit, the First Lady interacted with BISP beneficiaries and listened to their experiences. She reiterated the importance of strengthening awareness, transparency and accountability to ensure that assistance reaches deserving families effectively.
The meeting was attended by MNA Shazia Marri, Senator Sardar Al Haj Muhammad Umer Gorgaij, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, and other senior officials.
