ISLAMABAD: ( WNAM REPORT ): A high-level delegation from the World Bank, led by Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations, visited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) One Window Facilitation Center in G-7, Islamabad. Th purpose of the visit was to review the comprehensive range of services and support provided to BISP beneficiaries under one roof.
The delegation was warmly received by the Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah; Chairperson BISP, Senator Rubina Khalid; and Secretary BISP, Amer Ali Ahmed. The visiting delegation included Mr. Najy Benhassine, Country Director; Mr. Gailius J. Draugelis, Operations Manager; Ms. Hnin Hnin Pyne, Program Lead (Human Development); Ms. Eva Liselotte Lescrauwaet, Senior Operations Officer; Mr. Amjad Zafar Khan, Senior Social Protection Specialist; Ms. Anne Senges, Special Assistant to the Managing Director of Operations; and Mr. Waleed Anwar, Senior Program Assistant.
During her welcome address, Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid expressed profound gratitude to the World Bank for the transformative partnership and emphasized the significance of further strengthening the it. She highlighted that BISP is a realization of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, conceived during her exile in Dubai. Chairperson Rubina Khalid noted that by making the CNIC a mandatory requirement, BISP has empowered millions of marginalized women in Pakistan and facilitated their recognition in the national database. She also shared that BISP has significantly contributed to the surge in child registrations with NADRA and now maintains the second-largest database in the country after NADRA.
Secretary BISP, Amer Ali Ahmed, briefed the delegation on the organization’s core initiatives and the newly launched programs under the World Bank’s Crisis Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) framework. He underscored BISP’s efforts in promoting financial inclusion through the adoption of digital banking services for beneficiaries.
Following the briefing, the Chairperson and Secretary gave the delegation a tour of the One Window Center. The visitors interacted with beneficiaries and observed firsthand the efficient and beneficiary-centric services offered at the facility.
Ms. Anna Bjerde commended BISP’s pivotal role in delivering both conditional and unconditional cash transfer programs to the most vulnerable populations. She particularly acknowledged the adoption of digital payment systems and the focus on nutrition and female education.
“I am truly impressed to see that we have forged a partnership that supports communities not only during times of stability but also in the face of adversity,” she said. “BISP’s effective response during the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating floods of 2022 is a testament to its resilience. Our experience has shown that placing resources in the hands of women—particularly female-headed households—yields better development outcomes for families and future generations.”
