SHANGLA: Biometric verification and cash disbursement services under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) have been temporarily suspended across Shangla after a shortage of Telenor SIM cards disrupted the biometric authentication system used to verify beneficiaries.
The suspension has affected thousands of registered women across the district, with officials advising beneficiaries not to visit BISP facilitation centres until services are officially restored.
Biometric System Disrupted
According to BISP officials, the shortage of operational Telenor SIM cards has interrupted the biometric verification process required to authenticate beneficiaries before payments can be released.
The disruption has affected BISP facilitation centres in Alpuri, Bisham, Puran, Shah Pur, Chakesar, Martung, and other parts of Shangla.
As a result, eligible women arriving at the centres have been unable to complete biometric verification or receive their financial assistance.
Authorities Assure Temporary Suspension
BISP officials said the suspension is temporary and is directly linked to the unavailability of SIM cards used by biometric devices.
They assured beneficiaries that verification and payment services would resume immediately after new SIM cards are supplied, activated, and integrated into the system.
Beneficiaries Asked Not to Visit Centres
The interruption has particularly affected women from remote and mountainous areas of Shangla, many of whom travel long distances and incur transportation costs to reach BISP centres.
Authorities have urged all registered beneficiaries to avoid unnecessary visits to facilitation centres until an official announcement confirms the restoration of services.
Officials said a public notification will be issued once biometric verification resumes and payment schedules are finalized.
They added that waiting for the official announcement would help prevent overcrowding at BISP centres and save beneficiaries unnecessary travel expenses.
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