ISLAMABAD: Italian Agency for Development Corporation (AICS) on Saturday entered into an agreement with the Social Protection Programme of Pakistan to work together on climate change and other social issues in an effort to mitigate poverty.

According to the agreement, they would work jointly on health, education, climate change and other fields of social sector in order to improve the social sector for a better future for the coming generations. The joint venture will help mitigate the needs of flood affected people in Pakistan and help them in rebuilding.

Director of AICS office Islamabad Ms Emanuela Benini and Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri signed the agreement here at Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) headquarters.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAMP) Faisal Karim Kundi, Secretary BISP Yusuf Khan and other officials of BISP were also present on the occasion.

Ms Marri told the meeting that BISP aims to provide a comprehensive system of social security to the disadvantaged and marginalised segments of the society, particularly women.

She discussed the sufferings of the flood-affected people, repercussions of climate change, loss of human lives and damages to properties.

“The recent floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, many lost their homes, jobs, and businesses, large number of cattle and crops are destroyed, tens of thousands of people are still homeless,” she said.

The federal minister urged upon world communities to come forward and help people affected by the recent floods.

The Director AICS Emanuela Benini assured that efforts would be made to find ways and means for the social protection of people in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2022