90% of Women Beneficiaries Now Have BISP Digital Wallets
LAHORE, August 24, 2026 — Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid has said digital wallet accounts have been opened for 90% of women beneficiaries as part of efforts to make financial assistance payments more transparent, secure and convenient.
Senator Rubina Khalid made the remarks during her visit to the BISP Central Zonal Office in Lahore, where Punjab Director General Naseer-ud-Din Sarwar briefed her on the programme’s operational matters, payment mechanisms and ongoing activities.
The BISP chairperson said the digital payment system had been introduced on the special directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Under the new system, beneficiaries will be able to receive payments through authorized agents of partner banks across Pakistan.
She said the interoperability mechanism would allow deserving women to withdraw their funds from any authorized agent of a partner bank, regardless of their location. Once funds are transferred to their digital wallets, beneficiaries will receive SMS notifications containing payment details.
According to Senator Rubina Khalid, women can collect their money by presenting their CNIC and providing their registered mobile number. She clarified that BISP staff will activate digital wallets on SIMs issued to beneficiaries and that there is no fee for receiving a SIM or accessing any BISP scheme.
She added that digital wallet activation is completely free, while a service charge of Rs. 280 has been fixed for cash withdrawals. Beneficiaries do not need to withdraw their assistance immediately because their funds will remain securely stored in their digital wallets. They can withdraw the amount whenever convenient from an authorized retailer of the relevant partner bank.
Payment services will be available through six partner banks, she said, advising beneficiaries never to hand over their mobile phones or SIM cards to agents and to protect their personal information.
BISP linked to Benazir Bhutto’s vision
Senator Rubina Khalid said BISP represented a continuation of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and had been transformed into a practical social protection programme under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari.
She rejected the characterization of BISP beneficiaries as “beggars,” saying such language undermines the dignity and self-respect of deserving women.
“BISP does not make people dependent or turn them into beggars,” she said, emphasizing that the programme provides financial support and opportunities for vulnerable families to overcome poverty and move towards self-reliance.
The chairperson described BISP as an internationally recognized social protection initiative that provides assistance to deserving families within available resources while also supporting their transition towards greater financial independence.
Every rupee generates Rs. 2.34 in local economic activity
Referring to World Bank research, Senator Rubina Khalid said every rupee spent on deserving families through BISP generates approximately Rs. 2.34 in economic activity in the local economy.
She said the impact of BISP therefore extends beyond beneficiary households, as financial assistance also contributes to economic activity in local communities.
Zero tolerance for corruption
The BISP chairperson reiterated that the programme was enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against corruption and irregularities.
She said no form of malpractice would be tolerated and emphasized that BISP was a national social protection programme above political affiliations, focused on providing dignified and effective support to vulnerable segments of society.
Senator Rubina Khalid also said BISP was working with the Ministry of Information Technology to curb fraudulent activities carried out in the programme’s name.
She categorically warned beneficiaries that 8171 is the only official BISP number and urged them not to trust or respond to calls or messages received from any other number.
