ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has introduced a ‘Social Protection Wallet’ for eligible women, providing them with a modern, secure, and transparent digital facility for receiving payments.
According to BISP officials, registered eligible women will be provided with a free mobile SIM card linked to their digital wallet. The objective of this system is to grant these women direct control over their financial assistance and to simplify the process of accessing their funds.
Ismat Nawaz, Additional Secretary at BISP, stated that this facility will empower women with financial autonomy.
Under this new system, each eligible woman will be issued a specific mobile SIM card, linked to her national identity card. Officials noted that this initiative aims to enhance transparency in the payment process and mitigate the risk of exploitation during the withdrawal of funds.
Previously, a ‘Limited Mandate Account’ system was in place, which required funds to be withdrawn within a specified timeframe; otherwise, the money would be returned.
In contrast, the new Social Protection Wallet imposes no such time constraints, allowing women to withdraw and utilize their funds according to their own needs.
BISP officials clarified that a smartphone is not required for this digital facility; the SIM card can be used in a standard, basic mobile phone.
The new system also features interoperability, enabling women to access their funds through agents from various affiliated banks, rather than being restricted to a single bank or agent.
To ensure transparency, an automated notification will be sent to the beneficiary whenever funds are deposited into her account, allowing her to verify the details of the transferred amount.
