Benazir Hunarmand Programme: Zardari launches initiative to equip youth with skills

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reaffirmed his enduring commitment to social uplift and human development through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), as he launched the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, which aims to provide cutting-edge vocational training to equip youth for global competitiveness.

“Through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), we have empowered millions. Now, with the launch of Benazir Hunarmand Programme, we are equipping our youth with the skills and tools they need to build a better future,” he said while formally inaugurated the Benazir Hunarmand Programme at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, marking a significant step towards youth empowerment through advanced skill development.

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, federal ministers, parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, and other prominent personalities attended the ceremony.

The President formally launched the programme alongside Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. President Zardari said BISP was based on the philosophy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed whose legacy was carried forward by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who believed in inclusive prosperity and education for all. “We are determined to realise her vision for the uplift of marginalised segments of society,” the President said.

He emphasised that the programme would provide cutting-edge vocational training, including computer technology, and foreign languages such as German and Chinese, enabling Pakistani youth to compete globally. “We want the children of labourers to learn skills that allow them to support their families with dignity and contribute meaningfully to the nation,” the President said.

Highlighting the importance of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, President Zardari noted that skills development was crucial not only for national progress but also for preparing a skilled workforce to meet the growing demand in international markets. “We should equip our youth with modern technical skills needed globally,” he remarked.

He particularly stressed the significance of nursing profession, calling it one of the most sought-after fields internationally, and urged that special priority should be given to training in this area.

President Zardari also paid tribute to Syed Naveed Qamar, then finance minister, for his instrumental role in launching BISP back in 2008. “Today, BISP is not just a national success story but a global model in poverty alleviation,” he noted.

Highlighting the international demand for skilled professionals, particularly in nursing, he stressed the need to raise training standards to meet global benchmarks.

The President said the Benazir Hunarmand Programme is a continuation of that legacy, aimed at uplifting communities through empowerment and opportunity.

He reiterated his resolve to ensure that the youth of Pakistan are provided with the skills, education, and opportunities necessary to build a prosperous country.

The President said June 21 was an important day for Pakistan People’s Party as it was the birthday of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. “It is also a day of sorrow as we lost Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who guided us with her wisdom and farsightedness,” he added.

Earlier, BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid addressed the gathering, describing the launch as the realisation of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s promise to empower the youth. “Benazir Hunarmand Programme is more than a policy initiative; it is a movement to build a secure and skilled future for Pakistan’s young generation,” she said.

Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid said BISP, since its inception 17 years ago, had become the largest social protection programme. Under the programme, women were declared head of the household and received financial help for their 10 million families, she added.

She said BISP had always been more than a safety net, it was a commitment to inclusion, dignity and transformation of people especially women.

Benazir Hunarmand Programme while using the database of BISP will create an empowered and self-reliant citizenry, which will be capable of participating productively in economic endeavours, she explained.

The programme, she said, would offer practical and demand-driven training in multiple fields enabling critical economic and social change and causing poverty alleviation.

Senator Rubina Khalid praised Aseefa Bhutto Zardari’s active participation in the programme, calling it both symbolic and historic. She also thanked the German government for its continued support and cooperation in advancing the programme’s objectives.

BISP Secretary Aamir Ali Ahmed also spoke at the event, stating that Rs. 716 billion has been allocated for the programme in the upcoming fiscal year.

The ceremony concluded with a symbolic cake-cutting to mark the birth anniversary of Shaheed Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, paying homage to her legacy of service, sacrifice, and empowerment.