Events

A state level workshop to endorse the Social Protection Implementation Plan for Azad Jammu & Kashmir was held in Neelum View Hotel, Muzaffarabad from 09:00 am to 02:30 pm. Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Zakat & Ushr, Social Welfare and Women Development AJ&K chaired the session. Participants from respective line departments including, Livestock, Agriculture, Small Industries, Women Development, Education, Health, Forest, Bait-ul-Maal, Wildlife & Fisheries, and Auqaf & Religious Affairs participated in the workshop. Other participants included representatives of UNICEF, World Food Program, International Labour Organization and Non-Government Organizations

The consultative meeting was held on 25th October 2022 at Committee Room of PP&H Secretariat Block 9, Muzaffarabad to seek advice from the senior management of line departments for choosing 50 households to implement Integrated Poverty Reduction Interventions in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Social Welfare, Women Development, Zkat & Ushr. Mr. Luis Gorjon, Chief Social Policy Section, UNICEF Pakistan, Prof. Dave Gordon, Bristol Poverty Institute, University of Bristol, UK, Emeritus Prof. Richard Taylor, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, and Ms. Sadaf Zulfiqar, Social Policy Section, UNICEF Pakistan online participated in the meeting. Officials from Gilgit-Baltistan also joined virtually and actively participated in the forum.

The Department of Social Welfare has launched the Study on Vulnerable Populations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The launch event was held at Kashmir Institute of Management Sciences Muzaffarabad on 21st September 2022. Mr Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Zakat & Ushr, Social Welfare and Women Development AJ&K, was the chief guest. Dr. Jasim Anwar, Senior Consultant Social Welfare Department Presented the findings. Officials from Planning and Development Department, Social Welfare Department and Women Development Department were present.

The 2nd Consultative Workshop on formulating the Social Protection Implementation Plan for the State of AJ&K was conducted in Rawalakot. Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Zakat & Ushr, Social Welfare & Women Development AJ&K chaired the session along with the guests of honor from Gilgit Baltistan. Officials from Gilgit-Baltistan, included Mr Raja Rashid Ali, Secretary, Social Welfare & Women Development GB, and Mr Izhar Hunzai, Policy Advisor to CM GB. Mr Abbas Ali Khan, Add Secretary to CM GB, and Mr Rahim Jan, DD Social Welfare Department GB. Dr Jasim Anwar, a Senior Consultant for Social Protection UNICEF, facilitated the workshop. Several line departments and UN agencies, including UNICEF, WFP, and ILO, also participated and gave their input in formulating the SP implementation plan

1st Divisional Level Consultative Workshop was held on 29th September 2022 at Hotel Grand Regency, District Mirpur AJ&K. The workshop was attended by 35 participants representing various line departments, having a direct or indirect role in Social Protection. Workshop also hosted representatives from WFP, UNDP, ILO and Non-Government Organizations. On the occasion Dr. Jasim Anwar, Senior Consultant UNICEF/SWD GoAJ&K presented the overview and objectives of the Social Protection Policy and Implementation Plan. Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Zakat & Ushr, Social Welfare and Women Development AJ&K thanked the officials for their participation and appreciated the efforts of UNICEF and Social Welfare Department for extending and strengthening the Social Protection in AJ&K

Training of Data Collectors was held in Islamabad. Participants from Leepa, Haveli and Bhimber were trained on Integrated Poverty Estimation Tool. A hands on practice was done on questionnaire and its web application. Mr. Abdul Wahid, Director Social Welfare Department and Dr. Jasim Anwar, Senior Consultant Social Welfare Department lead the session. Mr. Luis Gorjon, Chief Social Policy, UNICEF Pakistan joined the session online and appreciated the efforts of Social Welfare Department and Data Collectors.

Co-chaired by Mr. Javaid Ayub, Secretary Social Welfare, Women Development, Zkat & Ushr and Mr. Mansoor Qadir Dar, Secretary Tourism & Archaeology, Govt. of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.Meeting was attended by the following key departments of Productive Sector: Livestock & Dairy Development Department Agriculture Department Tourism Department Sericulture Department Forest Department Wildlife and Fisheries Department Small Industries Department Picture2 Picture3 Picture4 Picture1 Picture5

Meeting on Social Protection Policy with Ch. Mehrban Hussain, Additional Secretary Regulations. Picture8 Picture9

Meeting regarding on Social Protection Policy was chaired by Dr. Muhammad Idrees Abbasi, Secretary Law and other participants included Mr. Raja Zahid Mahmood Khan, Draftsman, and Mr. Abdul Wahid Khan, Director Social Welfare Department AJ&K. Picture10 Picture11

Meeting on Social Protection Policy chaired by Mr. Javaid Ayub, Secretary Social Welfare, Women Development, Zkat & Ushr . Discussions were carried out with Deputy Secretary Finance for its vetting and approval by the finance department. Picture10 Picture11