ISLAMABAD: An event on women empowerment hosted by Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, organised by Benazir Income Support Programme was held at Prime Minister Office on Wednesday as a part of the ECO Summit events in honour of Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan.
The first lady of Turkey was welcomed by First Lady of Pakistan Begum Kalsoom Nawaz and Minister of State and BISP Chairperson MNA Marvi Memon. The event was attended by the spouse of Turkish Foreign Minister Hulya Cavusoglu, spouse of Turkish Minister of Economy Aysen Zeybekci, spouse of Turkish Minister for Development Zeliha Elvan, spouse of Turkish Minister of Transportation Habibe Arslan, spouse of Turkish chief of General staff Sule Akar and spouse of Turkish ambassador Asli Girgin and BISP beneficiaries.
On the occasion, the First lady of Turkey Emine Erdogan stated that women are held in high esteem in Islam as they shape the future of a nation by cradling its coming generations. Thus empowering women, empowers the future of a nation. Programmes like BISP contribute significantly towards women empowerment.
The Turkish first lady added that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy good relations and would keep on supporting each other in the fight against poverty and make the world a better place to live.
Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, in her address, stated that women are the corner stone of our society that’s why PML-N attributes top priority to the welfare of women. As prime minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif launched key initiatives to improve the lives of the poorest women during all his tenures. The largest part of the federal budget goes to the poorest women through BISP, thus benefiting the most vulnerable women.
Speaking on the occasion, Marvi Memon said that BISP is the largest social safety net in the South Asia that not only targets women by disbursing cash grants to strengthen them economically but also ensures the much-needed support system for their social uplift.
The first ladies interacted with BISP beneficiaries who shared their stories of the struggle against poverty at the Prime Minister office. They thanked the prime minister for enhancing BISP funds for their livelihoods and the many linkages to other welfare programs.