*The Digital Wallet and Interoperability are a gift from the Government of Pakistan for the convenience of women beneficiaries; beneficiaries can withdraw payments from any authorized retailer of any partner bank, at anytime and anywhere in Pakistan; free Benazir SIM to be obtained only from BISP offices and activated at designated BISP sites by mobile company representatives; beneficiaries advised to retain payment transfer and withdrawal confirmation messages and never hand over their mobile phones to retailers: Senator Rubina Khalid*
Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Senator Rubina Khalid held a live E-Kachehri from BISP Headquarters as part of the Programme’s ongoing public outreach and grievance redressal efforts. The E-Kachehri was broadcast live through BISP’s official Facebook account.
During the E-Kachehri, 31 callers from across the country contacted the Chairperson by telephone and apprised her of their issues and complaints. Senator Rubina Khalid directed the concerned officers to resolve all complaints received during the E-Kachehri on a priority basis and submit immediate reports on their resolution.
*Senator Rubina Khalid, in her message during the E-Kacheri, urged women beneficiaries whose CNICs have expired to immediately renew their identity cards through NADRA so that they do not face any difficulty in receiving their payments.*
The Chairperson said that, on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, BISP has introduced the Digital Wallet system to ensure that payments reach beneficiaries in a secure and transparent manner. She described the Digital Wallet initiative as a gift from the Government of Pakistan for BISP’s beneficiaries.
Senator Rubina Khalid specifically advised beneficiaries who have not yet obtained their free Benazir SIM from a BISP office, or who have obtained a SIM from another source, to obtain the free Benazir SIM from their nearest BISP office. Beneficiaries should bring their original CNIC and personal mobile phone when obtaining the SIM.
She stressed that beneficiaries must not obtain a SIM from any franchise, retailer or unauthorized person, nor have it activated through an unauthorized source. The SIM will be activated by a representative of the relevant mobile phone company at a designated BISP site.
The Chairperson further advised beneficiaries to ask BISP staff to insert the SIM into their mobile phone themselves when the SIM is issued.
Senator Rubina Khalid said that, for the convenience of beneficiaries, BISP is also introducing interoperability in its payment system. Under this system, beneficiaries will no longer be restricted to a particular city or a particular bank’s retailer. They will be able to receive their payments anywhere in the country, at any time, from any authorized and trusted retailer of any of the six partner banks HBL, Habib Microfinance, Bank Alfalah, Telenor Microfinance, Bank of Punjab, and Mobilink/Jazz Bank.
To receive their payments, beneficiaries must have their original CNIC and complete biometric verification.
Senator Rubina Khalid explained that once the payment is transferred to a beneficiary’s Digital Wallet, the relevant bank will send a payment-transfer confirmation message to the Benazir SIM. Beneficiaries should check this message before visiting an authorized bank retailer to collect their payment.
After receiving the payment, beneficiaries will receive a second confirmation message from the bank, containing details of the amount withdrawn. The Chairperson advised beneficiaries to preserve both messages safely for their records.
She also cautioned beneficiaries not to hand over their mobile phones to any retailer, agent or other person while receiving their payments.
Regarding the BISP survey, Senator Rubina Khalid clarified that the purpose of the survey is to determine the eligibility of a household for BISP assistance. She explained that once a survey has been conducted, another survey cannot be carried out before the completion of two years. Therefore, beneficiaries should not repeatedly visit BISP offices merely for the purpose of having their survey conducted again.
