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By Ariz Riaz :
The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has begun rolling out a new Digital Wallet System aimed at making welfare payments faster, more secure and transparent, with beneficiaries able to receive funds directly into their digital accounts.
The initiative was highlighted during a visit by BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid to the programme’s offices in Haripur and Abbottabad, where she met women beneficiaries and explained how the new payment system will operate.
Accompanied by Member of the Provincial Assembly Meher Sultana Advocate and other women representatives, the chairperson also reviewed the delivery of services and instructed BISP officials to resolve beneficiaries’ concerns on a priority basis.
Addressing beneficiaries, Rubina Khalid said financial assistance would now be transferred directly into digital wallets, reducing reliance on traditional cash distribution methods and helping recipients access their payments more conveniently.
Under the new system, beneficiaries will receive an SMS notification when funds are deposited into their accounts. They will then be able to withdraw the money at any authorised retailer participating in the programme.
A second SMS will be sent after each withdrawal, providing transaction details to help beneficiaries verify the amount received and improve transparency in the payment process.
The BISP chairperson also urged women to obtain the free Benazir SIM only from official BISP offices. She advised beneficiaries to bring their original Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and their personal mobile phone when collecting the SIM.
She warned beneficiaries not to hand over their mobile phones to agents or retailers while receiving payments, saying this would help safeguard their personal information and reduce the risk of fraud or unauthorised access to their accounts.
According to BISP, the new interoperability system will allow beneficiaries to withdraw financial assistance from authorised retailers linked to participating partner banks anywhere in Pakistan, regardless of where they originally registered.
During her visit to Abbottabad, Rubina Khalid encouraged beneficiaries to keep their SIM cards secure, carefully check the amount received and refuse any unauthorised deductions from their payments. She also urged women to report any irregularities immediately through BISP offices or the programme’s complaint management system.
The Digital Wallet System is part of the government’s broader effort to modernise social protection programmes by expanding digital financial services and reducing manual cash handling. Officials say the new payment model is expected to minimise delays, improve accountability and make it easier for millions of low-income families to access financial assistance.
The Benazir Income Support Programme is Pakistan’s largest social welfare initiative, providing financial support to millions of vulnerable households. In recent years, the programme has increasingly adopted digital technologies to improve transparency, strengthen payment security and expand financial inclusion, particularly for women in underserved communities.
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