LAHORE: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has opened digital wallet accounts for 90% of its women beneficiaries, paving the way for a new payment system designed to make financial assistance more accessible, secure and transparent across Pakistan.
BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid disclosed the progress during a visit to the programme’s Central Zonal Office in Lahore on Monday, where Director General Punjab Naseer-ud-Din Sarwar briefed her on payment mechanisms, operations and ongoing activities.
Khalid said the digital payment system was introduced on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Under the new interoperability system, women beneficiaries will be able to withdraw their BISP payments from authorised agents of partner banks across Pakistan. Once funds are transferred to a beneficiary’s digital wallet, she will receive an SMS containing payment details.
Beneficiaries will be required to present their CNIC and provide their registered mobile number when collecting payments from authorised agents.
Rubina Khalid said BISP staff would activate digital wallets on SIMs provided to beneficiaries. She stressed that the SIMs and digital wallet activation are free and that beneficiaries are not required to pay any fee for participation in BISP schemes.
A service charge of Rs280 has, however, been fixed for cash withdrawals, according to the BISP chairperson.
She said beneficiaries would not need to withdraw their entire assistance immediately, as the money would remain securely stored in their digital wallets and could be accessed when required.
Payment services will be provided through six partner banks, while the interoperability system is intended to give beneficiaries greater flexibility in accessing their funds.
Khalid advised women not to hand over their mobile phones or SIM cards to agents and urged them to protect their personal information.
She also warned beneficiaries about scams carried out in BISP’s name, stressing that 8171 is the programme’s only official number and that messages or calls from other numbers should not be trusted.
The BISP chairperson said the programme was working with the Ministry of Information Technology to curb fraudulent activities and was enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and irregularities.
Citing World Bank research, Khalid said every rupee spent on BISP beneficiaries generates approximately Rs2.34 in economic activity in the local economy.
She said BISP remained focused on providing financial support to vulnerable families while helping beneficiaries move towards greater economic self-reliance.
Also Read: 217 Civil Service Officers Visit BISP, Briefed on Digital Payment Reforms
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