ISLAMABAD:Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and KfW, a German Development Bank, have joined hands to enhance their efforts in alleviating poverty and supporting flood victims in Pakistan. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), worth € 27 million, was signed between the two. Secretary BISP, Amer Ali Ahmed, and Country Director of KfW, Mr Sebastian Jacobi, signed the MoU at a ceremony held here in Islamabad on Friday.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson of BISP, Ms. Shazia Marri, and other official. The MoU entails a generous contribution of 27 million euros from the German Bank to support the rehabilitation and cash assistance of flood victims in Pakistan. One of the key provisions of the agreement is the allocation of an additional cash assistance amounting to Rs30 million to the flood victims, aiming to provide immediate relief and address their urgent needs. The MoU also includes an investment of two million euros for the initiation of a pilot project under the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which focuses on improving the nutritional status of vulnerable communities particularly the girls in the areas that were worst hit during the flood last year.
During the signing ceremony, Ms. Shazia Marri briefed the KfW team about the various initiatives undertaken by the Benazir Income Support Programme, emphasizing the dire need to invest in the nutritional needs of the impoverished population. Recognizing the importance of early intervention, Ms. Marri said that BISP has been actively addressing the nutritional needs of the beneficiaries. She said first thousand days of a child’s life are crucial in preventing stunting and ensuring proper growth and development. To prevent stunning among the children, special nutritional food and immunization are provided to children aged between 6 to 23 months. Additionally, awareness sessions on hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition are also conducted for young girls. This MoU will further increase our ability and outreach to address more population, Ms. Shazia Marri added.
The Minister briefed the KfW delegation that to date, Benazir Income Support Programme had registered over 6 lacs and 43 thousand pregnant women, and lactating mothers under Benazir Nashunama. As part of its ongoing development program, the organization has disbursed Rs24 billion, effectively supporting vulnerable communities across the country. This agreement with KfW is expected to further enhance the programme’s impact and its outreach, she stated. Ms. Shazia Marri announced plans to increase the budget of the Benazir Nashonuma from 21.8 billion rupees to 32 billion rupees. This increase in funding demonstrates the government’s commitment to prioritizing poverty alleviation and social welfare in Pakistan.