ISLAMABAD, 21 OCT (DNA) – BISP, being an equalizer, a sign of national integration and custodian of Pakistan’s vulnerable strata of population, aims to provide facilities to its beneficiaries throughout the country on equal footings. Keeping in view this context, BISP needs to collaborate with ongoing development and social sector partners’ initiatives for establishing e-solution centers in all the regions of the country.
Through these centers, BISP will be able to arrange provision of facilities of education, health and employment to its beneficiaries even in the remote areas. This was stated by Minister of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon, in her address during the “Consultative Conference on IT based Innovative Solutions” here at BISP Secretariat.
The conference was attended by the representatives of Ministry of IT, NAVTTC, FBR, World Bank, DFID, USAID, JICA, Aurat Foundation, NRSP, RSPN, PIDE, Telenor, Taaleem Foundation, ILM Trust Pakistan, PRP, Muslim Hands, ECHO, HAP-Pak, HHRD, ARC, HRDN, ITA, Pak-Turk Schools, Bilytica Pvt. Ltd and e-Health NexSource.
The purpose of this conference was to interact with the experts and organizations that have been successful in deploying innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for providing swift solutions to social issues, posing challenges to social protection. BISP aimed at learning the innovative solutions to education, training, skills and primary health to design graduation strategies for BISP beneficiaries.
Chairperson BISP, while addressing the participants, appreciated their contribution in the welfare of the marginalized segments of the society through the use of technology. She said that the donors and philanthropists may benefit from BISP data for identifying the deserving persons. She also announced that BISP, with the assistance of concerned organizations, will establish an e-clinic and a Medi-bank at Bari Imam for BISP beneficiaries and other needy persons.
During the conference, two detailed presentations were given on e-schooling in tribal Balochistan and telemedicine centers and Medi-banks by Taaleem Foundation and e-Health NexSource. The initiative of e-schooling focused on innovative solutions for improving access and quality in mainstream schooling.
E-schooling provides education facilities and e-skills to the students of remote areas through IT solutions as these areas are deprived of quality education and vocational trainings. Telemedicine centers provide patients of far-flung areas, access to quality doctors and medical facilities through video sessions. Thus, the use of technology helps in overcoming the issue of access to quality education and healthcare in the country.
An extensive discussion was also carried out in the conference. The participants appreciated the role of BISP for the poor. It was deliberated that all the organizations were working in different areas and directions and there was a need to pool their efforts for welfare of downtrodden segments of the society.
It was argued that an initiative like e-Pakistan may be taken up under which all IT driven solutions to the problems prevalent in the country may be brought together. Secretary BISP, Muhammad Saleem Ahmed Ranjha, on the occasion, said that only dedication and coordination are required to bring change and adopt technology for the benefit of underprivileged classes of the society. He assured the participants that follow up efforts of this conference will be more concrete and result oriented. DNA