ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari launched the Benazir Hunarmand Programme to provide modern vocational training to Pakistani youth, helping them compete in international job markets.
According to the details, the programme is a new initiative under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) aimed at youth empowerment and poverty reduction.
Speaking at the launch ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said, “Through BISP, we empowered millions. Now, with the Hunarmand Programme, we are giving our youth the skills they need for a better future.”
The programme will offer advanced training in fields like computer technology and foreign languages including German and Chinese. The President said special attention would be given to training in the nursing profession, which is in high demand globally.
He said the initiative follows the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who believed in equal opportunities and inclusive growth. He added that the programme will especially help the children of labourers to gain useful skills and support their families with dignity.
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President Zardari also paid tribute to Syed Naveed Qamar, who played a key role in launching BISP in 2008. He called BISP a global model in poverty alleviation and said the Hunarmand Programme is a continuation of that mission.
First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, and other notable figures attended the event. President Zardari officially launched the programme along with Ms. Aseefa.
Highlighting the importance of skills development, he said Pakistan must train its youth according to international standards to meet growing job demands around the world.
Marking the occasion, the President noted that June 21 is the birthday of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and also a day of sorrow for the Pakistan People’s Party. “She led us with wisdom and a vision for a prosperous Pakistan,” he said.
Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of BISP, also addressed the ceremony. She said the launch of Benazir Hunarmand Programme is the realisation of Benazir Bhutto’s dream to empower the youth.
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She said BISP, now running for 17 years, is Pakistan’s largest social protection programme, supporting 10 million families and declaring women as the head of the household. “It’s not just a safety net, but a commitment to dignity, inclusion, and transformation,” she added.
Rubina Khalid said the new training initiative will use BISP’s database to target deserving individuals and turn them into skilled, self-reliant citizens. She praised Aseefa Bhutto Zardari’s active role in the project and thanked the German government for its ongoing support.
BISP Secretary Aamir Ali Ahmed announced that Rs. 716 billion has been allocated for BISP in the upcoming fiscal year to support these initiatives.
The event concluded with a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony to honour the birthday of Shaheed Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and to pay tribute to her legacy of public service and empowerment.
