ISLAMABAD: World Bank has reiterated its commitment to support the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) social protection system in order to strengthen and financially empower the marginalised segments of society and ensure relief to the poorest of the poor.

A high-level delegation of the bank had a meeting with BISP Chairperson Dr Amjad Saqib at the BISP headquarters here on Thursday.

The delegation was led by WB’s South Asia Regional Director (Human Development) Kicole Klingen, and comprised Programme Leader (Human Development) Hnin Hnin Pyne, Senior Social Protection Specialist Amjad Zafar Khan, Senior Consultant Gul Najam Jamy, Sohail Saeed Abbasi and Amna Khan.

In the meeting, Ms Klingen commended the concept of BISP and described it as a great initiative aimed at providing support to marginalised segments of society, particularly women and children.

Bank approves $18.3m in additional financing to CASA-1000 project

She also praised BISP for its impressive 10-day response time during crises such as the floods and Covid-19. Ms Klingen recognised BISP as one of the exemplary models in the field of social protection, urging others to learn from the programme’s valuable experiences.

Kicole Klingen expressed the World Bank’s commitment to providing continued support to BISP in the future.

On the occasion, Dr Amjad Saqib provided the World Bank delegation with a comprehensive overview of BISP’s initiatives including Kafaalat, Taleemi Wazaif, Nashonuma, National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) and shared insights into the achievements of the programme over the past 15 years.

Discussing the challenges faced by BISP, Dr Amjad Saqib outlined his vision for new initiatives to be adopted by the programme. He proposed the utilisation of the services of more banks to enhance ease during payment disbursement and suggested an increase in the stipend amount.

Furthermore, Dr Saqib discussed the induction of new poverty graduation programmes focusing on self-reliance of these families, technical education for children, programmes for orphans and widows, and the creation of endowment funds for the needy families.

He highlighted BISP’s commitment to building a positive image of support, emphasising that it is not a charity but a programme rooted in solidarity and an expression of love for those in need. Dr Saqib suggested using religious places like mosques, churches, and temples as community centres to further the welfare of the needy.

Later on, the World Bank delegation also visited the one-window facilitation centre in G-7 Islamabad and appreciated the registration process and payment mechanism of BISP for the needy women benefiting from the programme.

CASA project

The World Bank has also approved $18.3 million in additional financing to the ongoing Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade (CASA-1000) project for the Kyrgyz Republic.

This additional financing complements the original CASA-1000 project, a regional power interconnection initiative aimed at facilitating the export of 1,300MW of surplus hydropower from the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The original project, supported by several donors and international financial institutions, was approved in March 2014, and became effective in January 2018.

The country-specific CASA-1000 project for the Kyrgyz Republic involves the construction of approximately 456km of high-voltage alternating current (500kV) transmission lines.

The project is currently at an advanced stage of implementation, with 1,243 transmission towers installed (100 per cent) and 287km of stringing works (63pc) completed.

“The successful implementation of the CASA-1000 project is expected to generate significant positive change in the energy landscape of the Kyrgyz Republic and the other participating countries, in addition to promoting economic stability and regional cooperation,” emphasised World Bank’s Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic Naveed Hassan Naqvi.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2023