Chairperson BISP, Director ADB discuss partnership for skill development

ISLAMABAD( WNAM REPORT): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, met with Ms. Sofia Shakil, Director of Human and Social Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at BISP headquarters . The meeting focused on the importance of public-private partnerships for skill development and the international standardization of training certifications for BISP’s eligible households, aligning them with market demands.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the need to connect deserving and skilled individuals with Pakistan’s industrial sector to provide training in various fields and create job opportunities. She highlighted that state-of-the-art training institutes and industries in cities like Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Karachi can serve as excellent platforms for BISP beneficiaries.
Senator Rubina Khalid further stated that BISP is establishing a specialized working group comprising key stakeholders to ensure skill training for beneficiaries under its Poverty Graduation Program. She proposed that teams from BISP and ADB visit leading training institutions in Pakistan and organize a roundtable conference involving all stakeholders to discuss future strategies.
She also noted that BISP has active collaborations with organizations such as NAVTTC (National Vocational and Technical Training Commission), the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), and Alfa Mall of Bank Alfalah to enhance skill training opportunities.
Ms. Sofia Shakil appreciated BISP’s conditional and unconditional financial assistance programs and highlighted the significance of mutual cooperation at the provincial level to uplift marginalized segments of society. She also stressed the importance of holding regular meetings between the teams of BISP and ADB to ensure effective collaboration.