Benazir Income Support Programme has initiated a new digital payment system through Social Protection Wallets for one million enrolled beneficiaries, aiming to provide cash assistance in a more transparent, secure, and accessible manner. The program seeks to modernize distribution mechanisms, allowing recipients to receive payments directly into digital wallets linked to mobile SIMs. As part of the rollout, BISP has begun distributing free SIM cards to eligible women across Pakistan, ensuring that financial support reaches beneficiaries efficiently and without intermediaries.
This initiative follows directives from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who instructed BISP to upgrade its payment system in line with global best practices in social protection. According to BISP officials, the program ranks among the world’s largest efforts to digitize social assistance, reflecting a strong focus on financial inclusion and technological adoption. By linking payments to mobile wallets, BISP ensures a secure and verifiable channel for transferring assistance while providing beneficiaries with greater control over their funds.
During the announcement, BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid outlined the enrollment process for women. Beneficiaries are required to visit the nearest BISP office or designated camp with their original CNIC and an active mobile phone. After completing biometric verification, each woman receives a free SIM, which is then used to activate the Social Protection Wallet. Senator Khalid emphasized that the SIM cards are entirely free and cautioned beneficiaries against paying anyone claiming to facilitate wallet activation, underlining that only BISP is authorized to carry out this process. She described the wallet as a “digital tool carrying financial power” and encouraged women to safeguard it like personal valuables.
The Social Protection Wallet system will streamline assistance distribution by consolidating all BISP payments and installments within a secure digital framework. Official notifications related to disbursements will be sent directly to the SIM, reducing errors and delays associated with traditional cash disbursements. Beyond improving the efficiency of financial transfers, the system is expected to enhance the financial independence and empowerment of women, who form a major portion of BISP beneficiaries. The program also sets a precedent for integrating mobile banking and digital financial services into social protection schemes, potentially serving as a model for future initiatives targeting underserved populations in Pakistan.
Beneficiaries have been advised to collect their free SIMs from BISP offices or assigned camps by December 31, ensuring activation of their wallets and uninterrupted access to payments. By combining biometric verification, mobile technology, and digital wallets, BISP aims to reduce fraud, increase transparency, and provide women with secure access to their financial entitlements. The program represents a strategic step in the country’s broader effort to strengthen digital financial infrastructure and expand inclusive economic opportunities.
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