KARACHI, Jan 12 — Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Rubina Khalid, visited Lyari on Monday, where she met local leaders and residents at Baloch Hall and outlined new measures aimed at improving transparency, dignity, and access for women beneficiaries.
During her visit, Senator Rubina Khalid held meetings with Yousaf Baloch, Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed, and MPA Shazia Karim Singhar, along with other community representatives. She was warmly received by local residents and party workers.
Addressing a gathering at Baloch Hall, the BISP chairperson said the Government of Pakistan has introduced a new, secure, and transparent payment mechanism under the programme, known as Social Protection Wallets, to ensure women receive their financial assistance directly and with dignity. Under this system, BISP is providing free SIM cards to registered women beneficiaries to facilitate direct payments.
She clarified that the free SIMs will only be issued through BISP offices or officially designated government camp sites, and beneficiaries must bring their own mobile phones. She urged women to immediately report any individual demanding extra money in exchange for services.
Referring to the legacy of Benazir Bhutto, Senator Rubina Khalid encouraged women to stand firmly against exploitation, saying they should refuse any unlawful demands with confidence.
Mobile registration, skills training, and stipend increase
The BISP chairperson said women should ensure all required documents are complete at the time of registration. To ease access, mobile registration vans have been deployed to visit different localities, reducing the need for beneficiaries to travel long distances to offices.
She also announced the launch of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, under which women, their spouses, or children can acquire vocational skills. The initiative aims to promote self-reliance and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. Quoting Benazir Bhutto, she said, “Skills are your real asset,” emphasizing that vocational training helps reduce unemployment and dependence on others.
Senator Rubina Khalid said that, on the instructions of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur, BISP is committed to ensuring women receive their full entitlement with respect and transparency. She announced that the current quarterly BISP installment of Rs13,500 will soon be increased to Rs14,500.
She further said that under the education stipends programme, children from primary to grade 12 are receiving financial support, while special initiatives are also in place for the health and nutrition of pregnant women and children up to two years of age.
Warning against fraud and fake messages
The BISP chairperson cautioned beneficiaries that all authentic messages from the programme are sent only through 8171, urging them not to trust messages from any other number. She advised women to immediately report cases of fraud, illegal demands, or fake communications.
Concluding her address, Senator Rubina Khalid said women are aware of their rights and should not fall prey to misinformation. She added that unnecessary filters introduced in previous years, which had excluded deserving families from the programme, have now been removed to ensure broader access to social protection.
