LAHORE:Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid said that the Social Protection Wallet has been formally launched to enhance transparency and convenience in the payment system. She stated that under BISP, financial assistance is currently being provided to 10 million deserving women across the country and approximately 50 percent of the process of distributing free SIMs has been completed so far.
Senator shared this information while addressing a press conference on the eve of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary on Friday.She said that through the digital wallet system, financial assistance will be transferred directly to the digital wallets of deserving women. This will eliminate the need for repeated visits to offices or centres and eligible beneficiaries to receive their assistance with ease. For this purpose, free SIMs are being provided to deserving women, through which their digital wallets will be created.
Senator Rubina categorically stated that these SIMs are completely free of cost and are being provided only through BISP offices and centres. She emphasised that BISP staff themselves will activate the digital wallets on these SIMs. She reiterated that no fee or charge is being levied for any BISP scheme, particularly for obtaining these SIMs.
She urged women to safeguard these SIMs in the same manner as they protect their wallets or cash, as all future payments will be made through these digital wallets, enabling women to access their funds from anywhere.
She also highlighted that unemployment is a major national challenge, and in response, the Benazir Hunarmand Programme has been launched to equip deserving individuals with skills and make them economically self-reliant.
Senator Rubina Khalid also visited BISP SIM distribution centres established at LDA Sabzazar, GHS Ali Raza Abad, and Shalamar Baghbanpura where she reviewed the process of providing free SIMs for the Social Protection Wallet. She directed the staff to ensure complete and effective guidance for deserving women and advised beneficiaries on the acquisition, correct use, and protection of free SIMs.
Senator Rubina also visited the BISP Central Zonal Office Punjab in the provincial capital where she briefed the media representatives on the programme’s progress and key initiatives during a press conference.
The chairperson stated that BISP is the largest initiative in Pakistan’s history for the inclusion of women in the social protection, digital, and financial systems.She issued strict instructions to the staff to ensure complete and effective guidance for deserving women so that they do not face any difficulties. She also provided necessary guidance to the beneficiaries regarding the acquisition of free SIMs, their proper use, and their protection.
