PESHAWAR: Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Wednesday reviewed the distribution of free mobile SIMs to beneficiary women in Peshawar as BISP prepares to shift financial assistance payments to a new Digital Wallet System.
During visits to BISP Tehsil Offices Town-1 and Town-2, she briefed beneficiaries on how to obtain and activate the free Benazir SIMs and use the new payment mechanism. The initiative is intended to reduce unauthorized deductions, improve payment transparency and allow women to access funds more securely.
Under the BISP Digital Wallet System, each beneficiary will have a personal account into which financial assistance will be transferred directly, according to the programme.
Beneficiaries will receive an SMS when funds are credited to their accounts and another notification confirming the amount withdrawn after a transaction.
Payments to Remain Secure in Digital Wallets
Speaking to the media, Rubina Khalid said beneficiaries would not need to rush to payment points once their funds had been transferred.
She said the money would remain secure in the beneficiary’s digital wallet and could be withdrawn at a convenient time from an authorized retailer.
Payments will be available through authorized retailers of partner banks throughout the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, she added.
The chairperson said the new system was being introduced to make financial assistance more secure, transparent and accessible for women enrolled in the programme.
She acknowledged that some operational difficulties could occur during the initial implementation stage but said the system was expected to provide long-term convenience after becoming fully operational.
Free Benazir SIMs Available Only From BISP Offices
Rubina Khalid told beneficiaries to obtain their free SIMs only from official BISP offices.
She warned that SIMs collected from shops, private homes or unauthorized individuals would not be valid for activation under the digital wallet programme.
Beneficiaries must bring their original Computerized National Identity Card and mobile phone to a BISP office so the SIM can be inserted and activated at the time of issuance.
Officials said the digital wallet facility could not be activated until the SIM registration and activation process had been completed.
Beneficiaries Warned Against Handing Phones to Agents
The BISP chairperson also advised women not to hand their mobile phones to retailers or payment agents while withdrawing financial assistance.
She said payments required verification of the original CNIC, confirmation of the registered mobile number and biometric authentication. Retailers did not need physical access to a beneficiary’s phone to complete the transaction.
Under the previous payment system, some beneficiaries were required to return to their home districts or visit designated centres to collect assistance.
BISP said the digital wallet and interoperability system would eventually allow eligible women to withdraw funds from authorized retailers of partner banks in any city across Pakistan.
The programme said the reform was expected to reduce travel expenses, waiting times and difficulties faced by women accessing their payments.
Also Read: BISP Rolls Out Digital Wallet System for Beneficiaries
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