The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan's large cash-transfer scheme for low-income families, has approved a pilot Residential Skills Development Programme for 300 of its beneficiaries. The BISP Board gave the approval, and the training will be run with Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST) in Haripur. It is the latest step in the BISP skills training program, which aims to give beneficiaries a route to paid work rather than relying only on financial aid.
What the pilot offers
The pilot will provide market-oriented skills training to beneficiaries from across Pakistan, and at least 50% of the places are reserved for women. Training will focus on three sectors: hospitality management and tourism services, healthcare services and caregiving, and information technology and digital skills. The aim is to improve employability in both domestic and international labour markets, which means jobs inside Pakistan and abroad.
Participants will also receive career counselling, workplace orientation, industry exposure and chances to meet employers. In selected fields, they will be able to earn internationally recognised certifications. The approval describes the training as a way to promote women's economic empowerment alongside these skills.
Aims and next steps
The pilot will also test how well the residential training model works and whether it can be scaled up. The BISP Board's stated goal is to move beyond conventional financial assistance toward sustainable livelihoods, better income opportunities and long-term economic self-reliance. Because this is a pilot, its reach beyond the first 300 places has not been announced.
No start date or selection process has been announced so far. Beneficiaries who want to follow the progress of the BISP skills training program should watch for official notices from BISP.
Aasan alfaaz mein
BISP Board ne 300 beneficiaries ke liye ek pilot residential skills development programme ki manzoori di hai. Yeh training Haripur ke PAF-IAST ke saath milkar hogi, jis mein hospitality, healthcare aur IT ki skills shamil hain. Kam az kam 50 fisad jagahen khawateen ke liye rakhi gayi hain. Agar aap BISP ke beneficiary hain, to official notices par nazar rakhein.
