ISLAMABAD, September 14: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) on Monday signed separate agreements with the National Information Technology Board (NITB) and Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to strengthen digital service delivery, disaster preparedness and shock-responsive social protection.
The memoranda of understanding were signed at BISP Headquarters in Islamabad in the presence of BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid.
Director General NSER/CCT Dr Asim Ijaz signed the agreements with Faisal Mumtaz, Project Director of the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP) at NITB, and Muhammad Abaid Ullah Khan of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.
Under the agreement with NITB, BISP and the board will work through the Digital Economy Enhancement Project to support the digitalisation of citizen-focused services, improve integration between digital platforms and make BISP services more accessible to beneficiaries across Pakistan.
The partnership with PRCS will focus on anticipatory targeting, disaster preparedness and shock-responsive social protection, aimed at improving support for vulnerable communities during emergencies and natural disasters.
Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Rubina Khalid said better data sharing and closer coordination among provinces, government departments and institutions were essential for improving public service delivery.
She said integrating available data could help institutions respond more efficiently to the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly during emergencies.
Khalid also highlighted the potential of BISP’s geo-tagged data to help identify and reach at-risk communities during disasters.
She said the data could support more timely interventions and improve the targeting of assistance when crises occur.
The BISP chairperson also called for coordinated public awareness and communication efforts to ensure vulnerable communities receive accurate and timely information during emergencies.
The agreements are expected to strengthen BISP’s use of digital tools and institutional partnerships in social protection and disaster response.