ISLAMABAD: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uber Pakistan for creating economic opportunity programme for BISP beneficiaries.

Under the programme, a pilot project will be conducted to test-run the potential of Uber for the BISP beneficiaries.

Under this MoU, four-wheeled vehicles will be provided without any down payment and will include a target instalment of Rs8,000, monthly, for five years repayment.

For rickshaws, a target instalment of Rs5,000-8,000 monthly, for five years repayment.

Secretary BISP Omar Hamid Khan stated that he was particularly excited about this MoU as this will take forward the BISP benefits in terms of technology as well as women empowerment, as the main focus of this partnership will be kept on inclusion of women beneficiaries as drivers.

A pilot project comprising 100 beneficiaries will be launched in Karachi, Lahore Rawalpindi and Islamabad with 25 beneficiaries from each city.

It will consist of asset transfer of vehicles on zero collateral and easy instalments to the selected beneficiaries.

This partnership will help women entrepreneurs acquire requisite skills for driving and complete associated licensing requirements for rickshaws and other modes of transport, as well as other trainings that enhance candidates’ digital literacy, operational excellence, entrepreneurship skills, communication and customer care abilities.

The MoU was signed between BISP and Uber on Friday in the presence of BISP Chairperson Marvi Memon, Minister of State for Communications Junaid Anwar Chaudhary and Minister of State for Industries and Production Sardar Arshad Khan Leghari.

Marvi Memon termed it as a follow-up of meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Mr Dara Khowsroshahi, CEO of Uber Techn­ologies Inc at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos earlier this year.

Memon said, “The safety, security and dignity of BISP beneficiaries are most important to us.” She hoped that the partnership will help BISP beneficiaries exit the poverty trap.

Speaking on the occasion, Junaid Anwar Chaudhary said, “It will be a game changer for rickshaw and taxi services in Pakistan,” adding, that the partnership should be replicated in other smaller cities, if it is successful in the major cities.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2018