Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Ms. Shazia Marri attended Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP)- matching grant cheque distribution ceremony.

Federal Minister, Mrs. Shazia Marri stated how Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) distributed
matching grants worth RS 269 million amongst 128 beneficiaries to promote agri-business in Sindh. The
initiative is aimed at contributing to the overall economic development of the province by supporting
small and medium enterprises from 6 district of the province, namely; Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sajawal,
Tando Muhammad Khan, Tharparkar and Maitiari. The Matching Grants were distributed under Growth
for Rural Advancement and Sustainable progress which is a European Union(EU) funded project
implemented by International Trade Centre(ITC) in collaboration with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
(PPAF) and Food & Agriculture Organization(FOA).
Federal Minister Mrs. Shazia Marri, during her speech stated that she is grateful to EU and ITC for
investing in Pakistan’s agricultural sector to improve the business environment and strengthen
agricultural value chains in the targeted districts. “This initiative has improved access to finance for
agricultural based small and medium enterprises and boost the trend of entrepreneurship in the
communities belonging to remote areas. Five Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) have been worked
upon through this project. First no poverty. Second zero hunger. Third gender equality. Fourth work and
economic growth and fifth Climate change. This project in one way or the other contributed in fulfilling
these five SDGs. Women especially should be motivated and encouraged to participate in the work
force. Likewise, financial and digital literacy is need of the hour for masses”, said the Federal Minister.
Federal Minister and Chairperson BISP Shazia Marri while addressing the media mentioned that
different organisations should work hand in hand to help people affected by the floods in Pakistan.
“Inaction is no longer an option.Pakistan’s people, and the economic system that has to drive the quality
and pace of recovery from a flood that destroyed 33 million lives has sustained a huge exogenous shock.
We are not big emitters rather quite the opposite. Long-term climate financing instruments are needed
to plug severe capacity deficits in the developing countries. What has happened in Pakistan will certainly
not only stay in Pakistan, we are seeing climate change impacts crossing borders.” said the Federal
Minister.
Concluding the address, the Federal Minister thanked all the international agencies for their work in
Pakistan and distributed cheques among the winners.