ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China discussed on the provision of solar energy equipment to BISP beneficiaries in the villages of Sindh and Balochistan.
In a meeting between Chinese Economic Counsellor Wang Zhi Hua, and his team, with BISP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, the idea of providing hybrid rice to BISP beneficiaries for better income generation was also discussed. Wang and his team also visited BISP Headquarters. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the engagement of the Chinese government for future intervention in various initiatives of BISP aimed at graduating underprivileged segments of population out of poverty.
In his welcome remarks, the BISP secretary stated that BISP, the flagship social safety net programme of Pakistan, wishes to benefit from the Chinese experience of graduating 77 million families out of poverty. The secretary urged the Chinese diplomats to embark upon a journey of knowledge sharing and partnerships which will help government’s efforts to eradicate poverty.
During the meeting, microfinance schemes and skills training exchange programmes leading to self employment and entrepreneurship of BISP beneficiaries came under discussion. It was deliberated that the Chinese trainers and experts may give skills training to beneficiaries across Pakistan. The Chinese delegation mentioned the ongoing Chinese projects of providing solar energy equipment to Pakistan government and provision of hybrid rice to farmers for enhanced productivity through Ministry of National Food Security and Research. It was discussed that the Chinese government may assist BISP on the pattern of these projects through South-South Cooperation Fund by providing solar energy equipment to BISP Headquarter and BISP beneficiaries in the villages of Sindh and Balochistan. Moreover, the idea of providing hybrid rice to BISP beneficiaries for better income generation was also discussed.
In the end, the BISP secretary thanked the Chinese delegation and reiterated that in the next meeting, BISP team would focus on the concrete steps of cooperation between BISP and Chinese government for the welfare of the under privileged segments of the society, as per the government policy.
