Islamabad: Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid Tuesday said the programme’s newly introduced Digital Wallet system would make financial assistance more convenient, transparent and secure for deserving women by eliminating long queues, overcrowding and unnecessary delays.
Addressing a live E-Katcheri held through BISP’s official Facebook page from the Programme’s headquarters, she said the Digital Wallet system had been launched under the special directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to provide beneficiaries with a safer, more dignified and user-friendly payment mechanism.
She acknowledged that some initial challenges could arise during the transition period, but expressed confidence that the system would gradually become more efficient and convenient.
Under the new payment mechanism, beneficiaries would be able to withdraw their funds at any time from any authorized bank retailer according to their convenience.
The chairperson urged beneficiaries who had not yet collected their free Benazir SIM from a BISP office, or had obtained a SIM through any other source, to visit their nearest BISP office and receive the officially issued Benazir SIM.
She emphasized that Benazir Kafaalat payments would only be transferred to the Digital Wallet linked with the officially issued Benazir SIM.
She advised beneficiaries to bring their original Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and personal mobile phone while collecting the SIM, ensuring that the SIM was inserted into their own phone by designated staff and that the mobile number was kept safely for future use.
Rubina Khalid said beneficiaries would receive an SMS notification once funds had been credited to their Digital Wallet and another confirmation message after withdrawal, containing complete details of the amount transferred and withdrawn.
These messages, she said, would help beneficiaries verify that they had received their full payment.
She warned that if any retailer unlawfully deducted money or failed to disburse the full amount, beneficiaries should immediately demand complete payment by referring to the SMS notification and report the matter to BISP staff or through the BISP Helpline.
The chairperson also advised women never to hand over their mobile phones to retailers during the payment process, stressing that only the original CNIC and biometric verification were required to complete the transaction.
She urged beneficiaries to keep their phones with them at all times to prevent anyone from deleting SMS notifications or complaint-related information.
She said funds would remain safely stored in beneficiaries’ Digital Wallets, removing the need for immediate withdrawal.
Beneficiaries could collect their payments at their convenience, including on Saturdays and Sundays. She also instructed them to receive payments only from authorized bank retailer outlets and never from private residences or unauthorized locations.
Rubina Khalid appealed to beneficiaries not to believe rumours or unverified information circulating on social media. She advised them to obtain authentic information, guidance or register complaints only through BISP’s official social media platforms, the nearest BISP office or the BISP Helpline at 0800-26477.
She further informed participants that BISP’s official Facebook page carried the photograph of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto along with the blue verification badge, enabling beneficiaries to identify the authentic platform for Programme-related information.
During the live E-Katcheri, women beneficiaries from across the country shared their concerns, sought guidance and raised issues related to the Programme.
The chairperson directed the relevant officers to take immediate action and ensure timely resolution of all genuine complaints, emphasizing that the trust and cooperation of beneficiaries remained vital for the continued improvement of the Programme.
She also reassured beneficiaries that they should not be intimidated by threats or misinformation, clarifying that no individual had the authority to suspend the financial assistance of any eligible woman.
She encouraged beneficiaries to report complaints without fear so that prompt action could be taken against those involved in malpractice or exploitation.
