A multi-stakeholder meeting was convened to address financial barriers limiting girls’ access to education. In Punjab, stipends under Zewar-e-Taleem and Waseela-e-Taleem (BISP) remain limited to PKR 1,000, an amount insufficient to cover essential school-related costs. Increasing support to PKR 2,000–3,000 was identified as a critical measure to assist families in meeting expenses such as transport, learning materials, and other school requirements.
The discussion brought together government representatives, parliamentarians, policy analysts, and civil society actors to evaluate existing stipend programs and explore options for strengthening conditional cash transfers to ensure continuity of education for girls.
Participants highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that more than 13 million girls are out of school across Pakistan, including 4.8 million in Punjab. The dialogue underscored the urgent need for policy interventions that address economic barriers and facilitate sustained school attendance..