Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in social protection, family welfare and poverty alleviation, besides expediting the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the relevant ministries of the two countries.
\nThe understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Syed Imran Ahmad Shah and Turkiye\u2019s Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur \u00d6zdemir G\u00f6ktas on the sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
\nDuring the meeting, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy a historic relationship founded on mutual trust, shared values and unwavering support for each other in difficult times.
\nHe briefed the Turkish minister on Pakistan\u2019s social protection framework, highlighting the role of the Benazir Income
\nSupport Programme (BISP), Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and other institutions in supporting vulnerable segments of society and reducing poverty.
\nThe minister said Pakistan is keen to benefit from Turkiye\u2019s experience in digital social protection systems, family-centred welfare models and programmes promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
\nHe also described the ongoing collaboration between Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), particularly the Ramadan Food Programme and the Centralised Kitchen Project, as successful examples of bilateral cooperation.
\nMahinur \u00d6zdemir G\u00f6ktas appreciated Pakistan\u2019s social protection initiatives, especially the Benazir Income Support Programme, and said it is playing an effective role in supporting deserving families and economically empowering women.
\nThe two ministers agreed to expedite the signing of the MoU to expand cooperation in social protection, social welfare, community development, capacity building, staff training and the exchange of best practices.
\nTurkiye\u2019s Ambassador to Pakistan, Irfan Neziroglu, and senior officials from both countries also attended the meeting.
\nLater, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah presented the Turkish minister with a traditional Pakistani dupatta and a commemorative ministerial shield, while Mahinur \u00d6zdemir G\u00f6ktas presented him with a souvenir on behalf of Turkiye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in social protection, family welfare and poverty alleviation, besides expediting the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the relevant ministries of the two countries. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Syed Imran Ahmad Shah […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":556229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-556227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n