Vice Chairperson of the Punjab Social Protection Authority, Jahan Ara Manzoor Wattoo, has called for the creation of a unified, data-driven social protection system across Pakistan. Speaking in Islamabad at a consultative session on social protection organized by the World Bank and UK International Development, in partnership with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Government of Pakistan, she emphasized the critical need for inter-provincial cooperation to better address poverty, exclusion, and vulnerabilities caused by climate change.
Wattoo highlighted that building a robust and inclusive social safety net requires provinces to work closely together to share knowledge, coordinate policies, and adopt successful practices from across the country. As part of this effort, she announced the formation of the Inter-Provincial Social Protection Forum, an institutional platform designed to foster collaboration, harmonize social protection strategies, and ensure that effective initiatives can be expanded nationwide. According to Wattoo, the Forum will help ensure that social protection becomes a top national priority, making real progress towards leaving no one behind.
Expressing her appreciation, Wattoo thanked the World Bank, UK International Development, BISP, and the Government of Pakistan for their dedication to promoting cooperation on social protection and for organizing the session.
During the event, Punjab Social Protection Authority’s Director of Programs, Junaid Amjad, shared details about the Authority’s recent initiatives. He outlined PSPA’s commitment to leveraging modern technology, secure data exchanges, and strong cross-provincial partnerships to strengthen the social protection system in Punjab and improve the lives of vulnerable populations.
