Pak-Italy joins hands to upgrade life in rehabilitated areas after flood

Pakistan and Italian Agency for Development Corporation (AICS) have agreed to work jointly on climate change and other issues of social sector in order to mitigate the sufferings of flood affected people in Pakistan. It has been decided to help them in rebuilding. It has been decided in a meeting between Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety/Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Shazia Marri and Emanuela Benini, the Director of AICS office Islamabad at BISP headquarters and according to that the both sides has pledged to work together in health, education, climate change and other fields of social sector, enabling poor people to stand on their feet with an aim to eradicate poverty for a better future to the coming generations.  Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAMP) Faisal Karim Kundi, Secretary BISP Yusuf Khan, DG (OM) BISP Hammad Khan, and other officials of BISP attended the meeting. AICS director was briefed about the initiatives of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and stated that the programme aims to provide a comprehensive system of social security to the disadvantaged and marginalized segments of the society, particularly the women.While discussing the sufferings of the flood affected people and repercussions of climate change and great loss of human lives and properties of people that have gone through in recent catastrophe, Shazia Marri told that the recent floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people, many lost their homes, jobs, and businesses, large number of cattle and crops are devastated, tens of thousands people are still homeless. According to an initial survey, 33 million people have been affected by recent floods and the BISP has credit to disburse over Rs 66 billion among 26 lac calamity-hit families of the declared areas of country. BISP disburse Rs 7000 quarterly to its regular beneficiaries in addition to other programs. The minister urged the world communities to come forward and help people of Pakistan who are suffering climate change damages/issues.