ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (INP): The federal government has appointed Pakistan’s internationally acclaimed global health expert Dr. Sania Nishtar as chairperson of Board of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) The government had earlier invited Dr. Sania Nishtar to chair the Board of the BISP and following her acceptance, made the appointment. Dr. Nishtar is a well-respected apolitical professional, civil society leader and former cabinet minister. She is also a widely published scholar in the field of public healthcare systems and reform. Poverty alleviation and provision of social protection to marginalized groups, especially in the less developed areas of the country, is amongst the highest priorities of the government. Dr. Nishtar’s appointment, in fact, reflects the government’s commitment to achieve this policy objective by depoliticizing BISP and providing it professional leadership. BISP has recently outlined its plans for a comprehensive social protection strategy aimed at protecting the poorest of the poor from economic shocks. Under Dr. Nishtar’s stewardship, BISP is expected to further deepen its interventions and also make them more transparent through innovative targeting approaches for the most disadvantaged segments of society. Finance Minister, Mr. Asad Umer has expressed complete confidence in Dr. Sania Nishtar’s credentials and her ability to transform BISP into a modern, dynamic and impartial social protection organization capable of eliminating dependency and permanently lifting people out of poverty.