BISP hosted a dinner for the Executive Director of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Mr. David M. Beasley, who is on official visit to Pakistan. Chairperson BISP Ms Marvi Memon welcomes the delegation led by ED WFP, on the occasion. The dinner was also attended by Federal Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Food Security Sikandar Bosan and Ms Saira Afzal Tarar Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulation and Coordination. Diplomats, officials of World Bank and United Nations, representatives from Media and intelligentsia were also present. Welcoming the ED WFP, Ms Memon in her opening remarks appreciated the concern of WFP for offering support and facilitation to Pakistan. She further apprised the ED WFP about overall framework of BISP and possible collaboration avenues to work with WFP. Pakistan is WFP’s largest host government donor in the world and is paying US$ 50 million to the current Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (PRRO).Discussing further she said, that BISP is empowering women in social, political and financial terms through its various programmes. She also appreciated the role of WFP in Pakistan for being the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger, delivering food assistance and working to improve nutrition and build resilience. Reciprocating, Mr. Beasley termed the work of BISP as encouraging and extraordinary. He stated that he looked forward to cooperation between both entities and hoped that the “partnership will continue and grow.” He added that BISP can be their prime partner in Pakistan to reach out to the most vulnerable women in the country. Ms Memon stated that BISP is the largest social safety net of the country providing benefits to 5.7 million families across Pakistan under unconditional cash transfer programme and on the direction of Prime Minister, BISP is going to launch Conditional Cash Transfer programme on Nutrition keeping in view the high rate of malnutrition in Pakistan. With mutual cooperation, WFP and GOP can support the educational endeavor of BISP for its beneficiaries’ children under “BISP Conditional Cash Transfers Initiative for Children Enrollment in Schools” in the WFP priority regions in Pakistan, she added. Ms Marvi added that BISP will utilize the international expertise of WFP to make the Nutrition Conditionalities initiative a successful programme to reduce the malnutrition in Pakistan particularly amongst BISP beneficiaries. Secretary BISP Mr. Omar Hamid Khan thanked David M. Beasley and hoped that his visit will result in extensive cooperation amongst WFP and BISP. He added that this cooperation will directly impact the most vulnerable segments of society. The Secretary also urged Mr. David M. Beasley to use his considerable influence in the world community to champion the cause of BISP and engagement of the private sector to formulate a set of digital solutions to refine the programme. A documentary was shown to the honorable guest, projecting achievements of BISP as a social safety net. It was followed by an interactive session to discuss any possible collaboration between BISP and WFP. At the conclusion, Chairperson BISP presented a shield to David M. Beasley as a souvenir. ***** ?
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