ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid chaired the wrap-up meeting of the World Bank’s CRISP Review Mission on Thursday, with discussions focused on programme implementation, monitoring, staffing needs and the quality of BISP’s National Socio-Economic Registry database.
The meeting reviewed key findings of the CRISP mission and discussed the next steps, including the engagement of an Operational Review Firm, human resource requirements and the establishment of a stronger monitoring mechanism.
The World Bank delegation was led by Amjad Zafar Khan, Senior Social Protection Specialist and Task Team Leader, and included Social Protection Specialist Sarah Nizamani and World Bank Consultant Gul Najam Jamy.
Rubina Khalid described the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) as one of BISP’s major strengths and stressed the need to keep the database accurate, updated and reliable for effective targeting and delivery of social protection programmes.
Senior BISP officials, including Additional Secretary Dr. Asmat Nawaz and directors general of the programme, also attended the meeting.
Later, the BISP chairperson met a delegation from GIZ, where talks focused on the proposed districts for the next phase of SOPRAN, coordination with federal and provincial partners and possible agreements with technical institutions.
The discussions also covered potential cooperation in health, nutrition, physical hygiene and skills development.
Rubina Khalid proposed expanding health and nutrition-related initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Peshawar, Chitral and Kohistan.
She also discussed possible collaboration with GIZ under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, with a focus on skills training in healthcare, home care, construction and hospitality for BISP beneficiaries and their family members.
The GIZ delegation included representatives of BMZ cooperation, the German Embassy and GIZ’s sustainable economic development, training, employment and social protection programmes.
The meetings concluded with an agreement to continue consultations on a roadmap for future cooperation and implementation.
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