ISLAMABAD, Oct 13 — Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted BISP’s work on skills development, poverty graduation and digital financial inclusion while speaking at the International Conference on Inclusive and Resilient Economic Empowerment and Growth 2026.
Participating as a panelist in the session titled “Scaling Poverty Graduation: Bridging Social Protection, Community Development, Economic Empowerment and Inclusive Human Development,” Rubina Khalid discussed the role of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme in helping individuals build market-relevant skills and connect with employment opportunities.
She said the programme was aimed at supporting sustainable economic empowerment by strengthening human development and improving beneficiaries’ prospects of moving beyond long-term dependence on social assistance.
Rubina Khalid also stressed the importance of stronger coordination among government departments and relevant stakeholders to promote inclusive growth, expand economic opportunities and improve the lives of marginalised communities.
During the discussion, she highlighted BISP’s Digital Wallet system for beneficiaries, describing it as an important step towards greater financial inclusion, easier access to payments and improved transparency in the delivery of financial assistance.
The conference was organised by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Paigham-e-Pakistan and the Islamic Center of Excellence for Nation Cohesion and Outreach.
Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and PPAF Chief Executive Officer Nadir Gul Barech also shared their views during the conference.
Other panelists included journalist Syed Talat Hussain; Shandana Khan, CEO of the Rural Support Programme Network; Dr Atika Pasha, Research Director at the Center for Evaluation and Development; Ghulam Nabi Marri, Rural Development Specialist and IFAD Lead Project Economic and Financial Analyst; and Nageen Hyat, founder of Nomad Gallery.
At the conclusion of the conference, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah presented a souvenir to Senator Rubina Khalid.