KARACHI: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has signed two separate MoUs for data security and promotion of entrepreneurship among BISP beneficiaries. The MOUs were signed with Inbox Business Technologies and Indus Heritage Trust (IHT), respectively. According to the MoU signed with Inbox Technologies, the latter will design a secured system for the BISP to share its data with different entities in a secured manner, while keeping the ownership of the data intact. The system will use advanced algorithms of data sciences and syndication to make the data more valuable and relevant. The purpose of the MoU with IHT is to ensure mutual cooperation, collaboration to support and advice on skills development, training and various poverty alleviation interventions and broader poverty gradation strategy implementation for artisans among the BISP beneficiaries in selected districts. Speaking on the occasion, BISP chairperson Marvi Memon stated that the security of BISP data was the foremost priority and it would not be compromised at any cost. She said, “To ensure that the BISP data is safe, the programme will adopt the latest technology in the world for the purpose.” Speaking on the occasion, Inbox Business Technologies CEO Mir M. Nasir said that his firm will ensure that all the security protocols are adhered to in creation of the prototype. For data sharing, BISP will provide the anonymous data and actual in few cases as per BISP data sharing protocols/policy to Inbox for the prototyping purpose. Inbox shall use the data to showcase a web-based system prototype for the use of BISP with several high-level features. The features will include new data dimensions created with better dashboards, secure API framework to share the datasets, syndication techniques between different data marts, optimised reporting engine with query builder as well as roles based access for data monetisation. BISP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan stated, “We’re signing two very important MOUs. I hope that the piloting of the projects will be initiated at the earliest.” The scope of work of IHT under the second MoU will include designing and organising special training programmes on IHT’s value chain model with BISP beneficiaries. Moreover, IHT will introduce new marketable designs to BISP artisans and beneficiaries to create more market for products. Memon termed the signing of the MoUs a major development and said that she looked forward to using products made by beneficiaries of the entrepreneurship trainings. She further said that the tapping of international market would provide a major business opportunity to BISP beneficiaries. Sidiqa Saeed Malik, the IHT chairperson, also shared her pleasure and hoped that the partnership will assist BISP beneficiaries to graduate out of poverty. She said, “We look forward to making BISP beneficiaries leading entrepreneurs in their fields.” The IHT will also impart an e-commerce training to BISP beneficiaries to increase their market access. IHT will help artisans to establish their independent own enterprises, to provide access to credits and market their products to prevent exploitation by middlemen. IHT will advocate development of public awareness on the value and importance of hand made products by BISP beneficiaries. It said it could use the Art and Craft Village Islamabad as the venue for such events. IHT will soon pilot the project with training of around 50 BISP beneficiaries in a selected district. Published in Daily Times, April 3rd 2018.