Federal Strength through Devolution: Senator Rubina Khalid Pushes for Provincial Control of Health and Education
Irfan Ali
*BISP Chairperson Calls for Devolution of Health and Education Programs to Strengthen Federation*
*KARACHI, January 7:* Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) emphasized the need to devolve education and health-related programs to the provinces to strengthen the federation. She made these remarks during her visit to the Sindh Social Protection Authority (SSPA), Social Protection Department, Government of Sindh.
The BISP Chairperson was warmly received by Sindh’s Minister for Social Protection, Mr. Saeed Ghani, and briefed by Mr. Irshad Sodhar, Chief Executive Officer of SSPA. Mr. Khadim Hussain Channa, Secretary of the Social Protection Department, was also present.
Ms. Chairperson Senator Khalid stated that while the core BISP support program should remain at the federal level, health and education schemes should be devolved to provinces for more effective implementation.
She was accompanied by a delegation including Mr. Asim Aizaz, Director General NSER BISP, and Mr. Adnan ul Hassan, Director General BISP Sindh.
Senator Khalid further expressed BISP’s interest in establishing a data integration arrangement with Sindh, noting: “We believe the federation will be strengthened by working together with provinces for social protection programs.”
Welcoming the Chairperson, Minister Saeed Ghani highlighted ongoing deliberations with BISP for broader collaboration and data-sharing agreements. He noted that such cooperation would benefit millions of Sindh’s beneficiaries by streamlining access to social support programs. “We are also coordinating with other Sindh government departments to build a central data repository,” he added.
During the briefing, Mr. Asim Aizaz, DG NSER BISP, shared that Sindh has approximately 9.8 million households, of which 9.1 million are registered in the BISP registry. Currently, 2.65 million households receive unconditional cash support under the Benazir Kafalat Program, he added.
Mr. Irshad Sodhar, CEO of SSPA, informed the meeting about existing data-sharing protocols with BISP and NADRA, which facilitate enrollment under the Mamta Program. He briefed that 910,000 mothers have been registered across 15 intervention districts, with more than 4 million hospital check-ups completed under the initiative.
