ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid held a live E-Kacheri at the programme’s headquarters in Islamabad on Tuesday, listening directly to beneficiaries’ complaints and directing officials to resolve their issues on a priority basis.
During the interactive session, Khalid received calls from 28 beneficiaries and addressed concerns related to financial assistance, payment procedures and programme requirements. She also briefed participants on changes to the BISP digital wallet system aimed at making cash withdrawals more accessible for women across Pakistan.
The chairperson said the introduction of interoperability in digital wallet payments would allow women beneficiaries to withdraw their funds from authorised retailers of six partner banks nationwide, regardless of their registered city or banking network.
The participating banks include HBL, Habib Microfinance Bank, Bank Alfalah, Telenor Microfinance Bank, Bank of Punjab and Mobilink Microfinance Bank.
Under the arrangement, beneficiaries will be able to access their payments through authorised retailers in any city, on any day and at any time, removing restrictions associated with particular banks and locations.
Rubina Khalid explains digital wallet payment system
Speaking during the E-Kacheri, Khalid said the digital wallet initiative had been introduced on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure greater transparency and security in payments to women beneficiaries.
She advised women to obtain their free Benazir SIMs exclusively from BISP offices and avoid dealing with unauthorised individuals.
Beneficiaries must bring their original Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and personal mobile phones when collecting the SIMs. Activation will be carried out by representatives of the relevant mobile network operators at BISP offices or designated locations.
Khalid also outlined precautions women should follow while withdrawing financial assistance.
She instructed beneficiaries to keep confirmation messages received after fund transfers and withdrawals as transaction records and warned them against handing over their mobile phones to retailers or payment agents.
She clarified that original CNICs and biometric verification would remain mandatory for cash withdrawals.
BISP chairperson clarifies survey and eligibility rules
The E-Kacheri also provided an opportunity to address questions concerning household eligibility and identity card requirements.
Khalid urged women whose CNICs had expired to renew them through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) without delay.
Explaining the programme’s eligibility process, she said household assessments were conducted through the BISP survey, which determines whether families qualify for financial assistance.
She clarified that a repeat survey could not be conducted before two years had passed since the previous assessment and advised beneficiaries against making repeated visits to BISP offices for early reassessment.
During the session, Khalid directed the relevant officials to take prompt action on the complaints received and ensure that beneficiaries’ concerns were addressed through the appropriate channels.