ISLAMABAD:The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and German Development Cooperation have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan's social protection system, with a particular focus on developing adaptive mechanisms to respond to climate-related risks, disasters and emerging vulnerabilities.
A high-level German delegation, comprising representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), German Embassy, Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and KfW Development Bank, visited BISP's One Window Centre in Islamabad to learn about the programme's progress and the impact of Pakistan-Germany cooperation in expanding access to social protection.
Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson BISP, warmly welcomed the German delegation. Dr. Asim Ijaz, Director General (NSER), and Muhammad Idrees Mian, Director General (CT), were also present on the occasion.
The visit highlighted the growing importance of adaptive social protection, not only in addressing poverty but also in enabling vulnerable communities to prepare for and recover from economic and climate-related shocks. As Pakistan faces increasing exposure to floods, extreme weather events and other climate risks, strengthening the capacity of social protection institutions to respond to crises has emerged as an important development priority.
Through Pakistan-Germany cooperation, BISP's 647 Dynamic Registry Centres and 32 Mobile Registration Vehicles have supported the registration and updating of information for 38.7 million people, significantly strengthening access to social protection across the country.
These achievements reflect the value of sustained development cooperation in strengthening Pakistan's social protection infrastructure, expanding outreach to underserved communities and enhancing the systems through which people can access assistance.
The BISP leadership highlighted the importance of Pakistan-Germany cooperation in strengthening the country's social protection system and expanding access for vulnerable communities. It underscored that social protection must go beyond providing assistance to address poverty and increasingly serve as a mechanism for building resilience against climate-related and economic shocks. The leadership emphasised the importance of continued collaboration, institutional strengthening and coordination across federal and provincial levels to advance adaptive social protection and ensure that vulnerable people are better prepared for future crises.
The German delegation acknowledged the progress made through Pakistan-Germany cooperation in expanding access to social protection and strengthening institutional capacity. It highlighted the importance of continued partnership in advancing adaptive social protection, particularly as climate change and disasters pose growing challenges for vulnerable communities. The delegation reaffirmed the value of cooperation that supports Pakistan's efforts to develop an inclusive, responsive and sustainable social protection system, with stronger links to climate adaptation and disaster risk management.
The German delegation's visit provided an opportunity to discuss these priorities and continued cooperation between Pakistan and Germany in supporting a social protection system that is inclusive, responsive and better prepared for future risks.
The visit underscored the shared commitment of BISP and its German partners to strengthening social protection as a foundation for resilience, ensuring that people and institutions are better prepared to respond to the challenges of a changing climate.
The German delegation comprised senior representatives from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and KfW Development Bank.
The BMZ delegation included Christoph Rauh, Deputy Director-General for Bilateral Cooperation (Africa, Asia and Latin America); Anna Friedemann, Senior Policy Officer; Manuel Winkenbach, Senior Policy Officer; and Dr. Mirjam Bdenbender-Buchholz, Head of Cooperation.
The GIZ delegation was represented by Tilmann Nagel, Director, Division South Asia; Maria Poddey, Country Director, GIZ Pakistan; Johanna Knoess, AV/Project Head, Adaptive Social Protection; Alicia Beck, Country Manager, GIZ Pakistan; and Dr. Inam Muhammad, Social Protection Advisor, Adaptive Social Protection.
Representing KfW Development Bank were Klaus Mller, Director; Charlotte van der Schaaf, Senior Desk Officer; Andrea Grajcar, Country Head, KfW Development Bank, Pakistan; and Masuma Zaidi, Senior Sector Specialist.
The meeting also covered the SOPRAN Project, including Disbursement and Registration Centres (DRCs), Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs), Digital Financial Literacy Training (DFLT), capacity building and forthcoming shock-responsive initiatives. BISP provided an overview of its various programmes and initiatives, followed by an interactive session with beneficiaries to gain insights into their experiences and the impact of BISP's interventions.