Adil Saeed Safi, the Director General (DG) of the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), Planning
& Development Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of the Social Protection Policy, especially in light of the recent increase in poverty and vulnerability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy aims to address traditional challenges such as poverty, low human capital, gender gaps, unemployment, and marginalization that have persisted and even intensified despite the government’s increased focus on poverty alleviation through economic growth and redistribution.