Sindh minister, BISP chairperson to work together on skill development of out-of-school children

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Senator Rubina Khalid and Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah have agreed to work together for the skill development of out-of-school children, especially those who are supporting their families, to help them achieve financial stability.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Karachi on Monday. Secretary School Education Zahid Ali Abbasi, Director General BISP Sindh Zulfiqar Shaikh, and other officials were also present at the meeting, which discussed the promotion of technical and vocational education in Sindh, mutual cooperation, and the available resources.

Senator Rubina Khalid said that, besides financial assistance, the BISP is working on various programmes related to skill development and technical education, and under the flagship programme, the BISP and the Sindh government can work together to provide vocational training.

She added that the BISP is making serious efforts not only to provide financial assistance but also to make families self-reliant. She also mentioned that the federal government intends to initiate various programmes in Sindh to fulfil the objectives of the programme.

Sindh Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah appreciated the BISP chairperson’s offer of cooperation and praised her efforts. He said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s vision for the economic stability and self-reliance of Pakistani women has always been clear. Even today, we are carrying forward Shaheed Bibi’s mission for women’s empowerment.

He added that there are various challenges regarding girls’ education in Sindh, yet the provincial government has taken numerous steps to address them. He mentioned that Sindh is the first province to introduce the syllabus of an accelerated learning programme, under which three thousand centres will be opened where children will receive both academic and vocational education.

He further stressed the need to focus on children who are unable to complete their education due to family responsibilities, and said that by providing both education and technical skills, the youth can be made economically stable.

Shah expressed the provincial government’s readiness to provide all possible support. It was agreed in the meeting that the non-functional, vacant, or non-viable buildings of the School Education Department will be utilized in collaboration with the BISP to establish vocational training centres, and a working paper will soon be prepared for the next steps and final recommendations regarding skill education.