State Minister and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Marvi Memon was conferred the French National Order of Merit in a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Islamabad on Friday.

The order's purpose is to reflect a dynamic society and award younger generations, set an example as a form of evaluation and recognise diversity in the French society.

Memon, who spent her early years in France, received the award from the French Ambassador to Pakistan, Martine Dorance, in the presence of ministers and journalists. Federal Ministers Balighur Rehman and Khurram Dastgir, and Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz were present at the ceremony, among others.

Thanking French President Emmanuel Macron, Memon talked about similarities in the struggles of Pakistan and France in dealing with terror attacks. "France has emerged on the international scene as a forceful voice for the oppressed and marginalised," she said in her speech.

"It would be no exaggeration to say 'poverty has a woman's face'," Memon added, highlighting BISPs efforts for poverty alleviation in Pakistan.

"Prime Minister not resigning and we will win hearts and minds and all come what may," she later tweeted with pictures of the ceremony.