ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an additional $330 million in financing to strengthen Pakistan’s federally administered social protection initiatives.
Announced on Wednesday, the performance-based loan will support the ongoing Integrated Social Protection Development Programme (ISPDP), aimed at enhancing poverty alleviation efforts, particularly for underprivileged women and families at the grassroots level.
The additional financing will bolster the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan’s flagship social welfare agency, by introducing adaptive and climate-resilient measures to modernize and expand its services. These enhancements include improving access to education for children and adolescents from low-income families and increasing access to healthcare and nutritional support in disaster-prone areas.
“This programme strengthens Pakistan’s efforts to improve human capital development and reduce intergenerational poverty, especially for women who are disproportionately affected during economic hardships,” said Yevgeniy Zhukov, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia. “ADB’s additional financing will boost the government’s ability to reach more of the poorest and most vulnerable in Pakistan.”
The ISPDP, initially approved in December 2021, comprises a $600 million loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, a $3 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, and a $24.48 million co-financing grant from the Education Above All Foundation, bringing the programme’s total funding to $627 million. Launched in 2022, the programme has already achieved significant progress.
“The programme is performing well. It has increased access to primary and secondary education for children and adolescents from poor families and improved access to health services and nutrition supplies for women and adolescent girls,” noted Emma Fan, ADB Country Director for Pakistan.
She also highlighted advancements in financial management, procurement practices, internal controls, and the information management system within BISP, which oversees cash transfer programmes.
Pakistan, a founding member of ADB, has received over $52 billion in public and private sector loans, grants, and financing since 1966. These funds have supported infrastructure development, energy and food security, transport networks, and social services to promote inclusive economic growth.
The ongoing ISPDP focuses on poverty alleviation through three main objectives:
- Strengthening institutional capacity for social protection and climate resilience.
- Improving access to primary and secondary education for children and adolescents from disadvantaged families.
- Enhancing access to health services and nutrition for women, adolescent girls, and children from poor families.
With the additional $330 million in financing, the scope and coverage of the ISPDP will expand, enabling BISP to deliver integrated programmes and services more effectively at the grassroots level.
