Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Senator Rubina Khalid, met with Mr. Geir Thomas Tonstol, Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Pakistan, at BISP Headquarters today to discuss avenues for mutual collaboration under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of skills development, employment generation, capacity building, and institutional linkages to improve livelihood opportunities for BISP beneficiaries through market-driven and demand-led interventions.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted BISP’s ongoing reforms, including the introduction of the Digital Wallet payment system to ensure greater financial inclusion, transparency, and convenience for beneficiaries. She stated that, according to a World Bank study, BISP has evolved beyond a social safety net and is making a significant contribution to the country’s local economy through its multiplier effects.
The Chairperson said that the Benazir Hunarmand Programme is a major poverty graduation initiative aimed at equipping beneficiaries with market-relevant skills, enabling them to become financially independent and improve their quality of life. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with the ILO in developing demand-driven skills, particularly in sectors with strong employment potential such as women-led crafts and handicrafts, hotel management, tourism, and other emerging industries.
Mr. Geir Thomas Tonstol appreciated BISP’s transformative role in strengthening Pakistan’s social protection system and expressed the ILO’s keen interest in working closely with BISP to promote skills development, decent employment, and sustainable livelihoods for beneficiaries.
Both sides agreed to nominate focal persons to identify areas of mutual interest and prepare a joint work plan leading towards the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize long-term cooperation.
