BISP, OPF agree to join hands in imparting training to EV Technicians

ISLAMABAD (WNAM REPORT ): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid  held a meeting with Managing Director Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), Mohammed Afzaal Bhatti, to discuss collaboration on training BISP beneficiaries in emerging technologies, particularly Electric Vehicle (EV) maintenance, and linking them with overseas employment opportunities under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme.
Senator Rubina Khalid briefed the OPF Managing Director on the aims of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, recently launched by President Asif Ali Zardari, which seeks to uplift BISP beneficiary famalies through advanced, market-driven skill development. She noted that BISP has already partnered with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, NAVTTC and provincial TEVTAs through MoUs to deliver high-demand vocational training and connect trained individuals with relevant industries.
MD OPF, Afzaal Bhatti, appreciated BISP’s vision and its focus on empowering low-income households through employment-oriented training. He shared that the OPF Board has approved the establishment of two EV technician training centres and offered to train BISP beneficiaries registered on the Benazir Hunarmand Portal. He assured full support to prepare beneficiaries and their family members as certified EV technicians, skills expected to be in high demand both domestically and globally.
Highlighting the rising international demand for skilled labour in the EV sector, Senator Rubina Khalid said Pakistan’s workforce could greatly benefit from targeted upskilling and wider access to global job markets. “We need to guide, train, and connect our workforce with the right platforms. Skill development is essential to addressing today’s economic challenges,” she said.
The OPF MD was accompanied by EV consultant Azhar Hashmi, who expressed interest in contributing to a structured skills-to-employment pipeline for EV technicians.
Both sides agreed to develop a framework for training, certification, and international job placement to ensure that BISP beneficiaries gain access to safe and sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly in the rapidly growing EV sector.