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The Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has been summoned to meet on Monday, the 2nd March, 2026 at 10.30 a.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad. The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Tuesday, the 3rd March, 2026 at 03:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad. Committee Meetings:01:30 PM: 3rd meeting of the Sub-Committee of the SC on Power Division (Revised, Change in Time) at Committee Room No.7 (4th Floor), Parliament House, Islamabad | 02:00 PM: 9th meeting of the SC on Government Assurances at Constitution Room / Committee Room No. 5 (2nd Floor), Parliament House , Islamabad | 03:30 PM: 20th meeting of the Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming at Committee Room of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Block-F, Pak-Secretariat, Islamabad |
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Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety meets

Thursday, 19th February, 2026
Islamabad, February 19, 2026: The Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety held its 16th meeting today at 11:00 am in the Constitution Room, 2nd Floor, Parliament House, Islamabad under the Chairmanship of Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur. The meeting was convened to scrutinize the administrative and financial governance of the Ministry and its attached departments. 
The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, briefed the Committee that none of the Ministry's subsidiary organizations have any projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of FY 2026-27. She provided a comprehensive overview of the statutory framework, including relevant legislation, rules, and ordinances governing the Ministry and its attached departments. Established in 2022 from the Statistics Division, the Ministry oversees key entities such as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), and the Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO).
 
In response to queries regarding TVO's financial status and operations, its representative explained that the organization continues to function on the endowment created from an initial USAID grant of US$ 8 million (equivalent to approximately PKR 520 million at the time), which was transferred to TVO by the Government of Pakistan. TVO sustains its activities through returns on this endowment, supplemented by grants and support from international donors, including UNICEF and other agencies. The organization primarily focuses on facilitating and empowering local and rural NGOs engaged in uplifting women and children through interventions in health, education, and poverty reduction. It extends technical and financial assistance to these NGOs, with no additional government funding received beyond the seed capital.
 
The Committee directed the Ministry to furnish detailed funding and expenditure records for TVO over the past two years, including profit and loss statements, and specifically sought information on any involvement or activities related to Dera Ismail Khan District. The Committee also inquired about the status of the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and the Centre for Rural Economy, directing the Ministry to provide a complete update on both entities at the next meeting.
 
Further, the Committee sought details of any government officers or officials currently serving in the Ministry's subsidiary departments while on extra-ordinary leave (EOL), including their respective departments, remaining leave period, current positions, and pay scales. The Committee also requested a briefing on the status of the Pakistan Labour Council in the forthcoming meeting.
 
The Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety informed the Committee that Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal operates primarily on endowment funds by Government of Pakistan. Meanwhile, zakat collections are managed through banks, without direct handling of these funds by the Ministry. The Minister highlighted PBM’s extensive outreach, noting the presence of its representatives in country’s every district and its District Headquater hospitals (DHQs) to facilitate beneficiary access to scholarships, health emergency funds, and financial assistance. The Minister commended the exemplary performance of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, particularly its initiatives in Balochistan.
 
The Committee noted the bureaucratic delay in the establishment of Pakistan Bait ul Mal’s Women Empowerment Centre in Muzaffargarh District whereby Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety assured the Committee of his immediate intervention to resolve the matter expeditiously. The Committee deferred the agenda item number five pertaining to Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to the next meeting.  
 
The Committee was attended by the following Members of the National Assembly: Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Babar, Makhdoom Tahir Rashid Ud din, Mr. Mohammad Ilyas Choudhary, Ms. Naima Kanwal and Ms. Huma Akhtar Chughtai. Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Mr. Imran Ahmed Shah and senior officers from Ministry and TVO were also in attendance. Meanwhile Managing Director Pakistan Bait ul Maal Senator Capt. Shaheen Khalid Butt and senior officers from PBM attended the meeting through zoom link.