Pakistan and Trkiye have agreed to strengthen cooperation in social protection, poverty alleviation and family welfare by initiating a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding institutional collaboration and exchanging best practices.
According to an official information today, the understanding was reached during a bilateral meeting between Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah and Trkiye’s Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktas, held on the sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of OIC Member States in Islamabad.
During the meeting, both ministers agreed to launch an MoU between Pakistan’s Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Trkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services to promote cooperation in social safety, community development and social protection. The agreement is expected to facilitate the exchange of expertise, strengthen institutional partnerships and encourage collaboration in key welfare sectors.
Syed Imran Ahmad Shah welcomed the Turkish minister and expressed appreciation for her visit, reaffirming the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Trkiye. He said the two countries had consistently supported one another and continued to enjoy a partnership built on mutual trust, shared values and close cooperation.
The federal minister briefed the Turkish delegation on Pakistan’s social protection framework, highlighting the contributions of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO) in expanding social safety nets, assisting vulnerable communities and promoting inclusive development.
He also praised Trkiye’s integrated and digitally driven social protection system, saying Pakistan was keen to learn from Trkiye’s experience in digital service delivery, family-centred welfare programmes, disability inclusion and institutional coordination.
Referring to the existing cooperation between Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Shah appreciated the successful implementation of initiatives including the Ramazan Food Programme and the Centralized Kitchen Project. He expressed the hope of expanding collaboration through joint projects, technical exchanges and capacity-building programmes focused on poverty reduction and social welfare.
Mahinur Özdemir Göktas commended Pakistan’s social protection initiatives, particularly the internationally recognised Benazir Income Support Programme, and said it had played an important role in supporting vulnerable households while advancing women’s financial inclusion.
The meeting was attended by Trkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Irfan Neziroglu, along with senior officials from both countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Shah presented a traditional Pakistani headscarf to Göktas as a commemorative gift, while the Turkish minister reciprocated with a souvenir symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.