The Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division in collaboration with Pakistan’s Permanent Mission in New York organized three-themed daylong activities at the Dubai Expo 2020 in Pakistan Pavilion.
The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar chaired these events.
Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York convened an information session with the Member States to garner support for the Universal Declaration on Social Protection which Pakistan is leading.
This process started with the mission hosting an event on Social Protection during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2021.
The event was co-hosted by Turkey, Nigeria, and Costa Rica.
A “Group of friends on social protection” was subsequently created in order to pursue a “Universal Declaration on Social Protection” which amongst other things is intended to establish a knowledge platform for sharing best practices amongst member states.
The platform will be hosted by the World Bank. 15 Countries have already indicated an interest in joining the platform and signing the Declaration.
Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar keynoted the event.
Chaired a high-level panel of policymakers on cash transfers featuring #Ehsaas and global experiences at @expo2020dubai Pakistan Pavilion during the #GlobalGoalsWeek. Thank you @Ugentilini @mich_rutk @FraBastagli @cinalawson @PakistanUN_NY for joining. @ForeignOfficePk pic.twitter.com/mwYhaghclf
— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) January 17, 2022
The participants included the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram, the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN Feridun Sinirlioğlu, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, and the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Rodrigo Alberto Carazo Zeledón.
The Permanent Representatives of Argentina, Peru, and China also spoke at the event and supported the idea of a platform.
Ehsaas also featured a high-level panel discussion on, “Global experiences in cash transfer programmers”.
Dr. Sania Nishtar along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Afzal Mehmood co-chaired the panel.
Pleased to convene “#Ehsaas Team Meet and Greet” with visitors at @expo2020dubai Pakistan Pavilion. #GlobalGoalsWeek @ForeignOfficePk #Expo2020 #Dubai pic.twitter.com/qPfUVsZ5zv
— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) January 17, 2022
The panel comprised of global experts, relevant ministers, and academics including Ugo Gentilini, Global Lead for Social Assistance, the World Bank; Michal Rutowski, Global Director for Social Protection and Jobs, the World Bank Cina Lawson, Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation Togo; Francesca Bastagali, Director Equity and Social Policy, Overseas Development Institute; Noor Rehman Khan, DG Ehsaas Unconditional Cash Transfers Ehsaas; and Naveed Akbar, DG Ehsaas Conditional Cash Transfers Ehsaas.
The panelists shared their global learnings and experiences in administering and studying cash transfer programmers.
Ehsaas’ programmers were richly commended for casting wider cash transfers.
On the day, the Ehsaas team hosted a “meet and greet event” to inform visitors of Pakistan Pavilion about Ehsaas and its over 288 programmers, initiatives, and policy actions.
The visitors took a keen interest in Ehsaas and richly appreciated its myriad pro-poor programmers.
