President Zardari Highlights Pakistan’s Leadership in South–South Cooperation and Social Protection Reforms at Qatar Summit

Independent Report

Doha/Islamabad, November 6, 2025 (Independent Report): President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan has emerged as a key driver of South–South cooperation, sharing its innovative development models and social protection experiences with other developing nations.

 

In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, a Doha-based English daily, during his visit to Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development, President Zardari said Pakistan is promoting inclusive growth through community-based initiatives in health, education, and social welfare, notably via the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER).

 

He noted that biometric verification under BISP ensures transparent and targeted financial assistance, while digital wallets empower women to manage payments safely and achieve financial independence. “Our goal is a Pakistan where every family enjoys social protection, women are economically empowered, and youth have access to decent employment,” he added.

 

Highlighting the importance of regional cooperation, President Zardari said that Pakistan and Gulf countries can expand collaboration in labour mobility, skills enhancement, and sustainable investment, emphasizing that “joint action on climate-resilient infrastructure and social protection will reinforce regional stability.”

 

He praised Qatar’s constructive role in promoting peace and dialogue in the region, particularly its mediation between Hamas and international stakeholders, and its role in facilitating the U.S.-Taliban peace dialogue. “Qatar’s commitment to humanitarian diplomacy aligns with Pakistan’s vision of peace, stability, and prosperity,” he remarked.

 

Discussing Pakistan’s domestic agenda, President Zardari said that the government is expanding the digital social protection system, with BISP now covering over nine million families through a fully digital registry of 35 million households. “We are also developing programmes for child and disability benefits, disaster-linked cash assistance, and women’s digital inclusion in line with the Doha Declaration,” he stated.

 

President Zardari underlined that Pakistan’s social policy aligns with the Doha Declaration’s call for universal social protection and inclusive economic recovery, adding that the government’s cash assistance and skill-based reforms are helping families recover faster from disasters and economic shocks.

 

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work with the United Nations and international development partners to expand social protection, create decent and green jobs, and link social policy with climate resilience and sustainable growth.

 

#PresidentZardari #QatarSummit #SocialProtection #BISP #DohaDeclaration #SouthSouthCooperation