SHANGLA: Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme Rubina Khalid has said a special initiative of skills training will be launched to empower women of the backward areas to help them earn a sustainable living.

Accompanied by BISP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa director general Zohra Aslam, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Hazara division women wing president Dr Shaista, Ms Khalid met the BISP beneficiaries here on Monday and inquired about the issues they are facing in getting the payments.

Talking to Dawn at the residence of former nazim of Bataira union council of Kolai-Pallas district, Hajid Amin in Bisham here, she said BISP aimed to support poor women economically.

“Education is the right of every boy and girl, and Kohistan people should let their girls to get education and become empowered and serve their country.

Ms Khalid said BISP programme was designed for the poor women, adding the scheme helped widows in Shangla to be enrolled for the cash programme. She said Benazir Nashounama Programme helped meet the nutritious needs of women and their children to improve health of mother and child as Pakistan had a high rate of malnutrition.

The BISP chairperson said under the Waseela Taleem project, BISP paid cash stipends to girls, so that the poverty-stricken people could send their daughters to schools and get them educated.

“We are going to re-launch Waseela Rozgar Programme, which was discontinued a few years ago, to equip youth with skills so that their lives improved.”

She added that Nashonuma and Waseela Rozgar initiatives would be implemented in Shangla and nearby remote districts, where poverty index was high.

The BISP chairperson also visited Bataira area of Kolai-Pallas and Pattan area of Lower Kohistan and urged the people to send their girls to school.

DROWNS: A minor boy drowned in the River Indus in Kabalgram area of Martung tehsil here on Monday morning. Rescue 1122 divers continued search for the body, but could not trace it till filing of this report on Monday evening.

A Rescue 1122 official said Masood Ali, 8, was taking bath in the river along with other family members when the strong currents swept him away.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024