By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: The Secretary of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has announced the opening of bank accounts for all beneficiaries, marking a significant step toward modernization and financial inclusion.
During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Poverty Alleviation Committee, chaired by Mir Ghulam Ali, issues related to the BISP were discussed in detail.
In a briefing to the committee, BISP officials revealed that approximately 130,000 women beneficiaries currently face difficulties due to issues with thumb verification. To address this, special cards will be issued to these women in January.
Officials also highlighted challenges in shifting disbursements to bank accounts, citing the disparity in banking infrastructure. While there are 17,000 bank branches nationwide, the majority are located in urban areas, whereas most BISP beneficiaries reside in rural regions. To mitigate this issue, officials suggested continuing cash disbursements through point-of-sale agents.
Committee Chairman Mir Ghulam Ali emphasized the importance of automation in ensuring transparency, stating, “Wherever there is human involvement, issues arise. The BISP system should be fully automated.”
The Secretary of BISP outlined the initiative to open bank accounts for all beneficiaries, which will allow them to withdraw funds directly from bank branches. He added, “This is a significant achievement. We are launching a pilot project in urban areas for three months to test the new system. Our goal is to enable beneficiaries to withdraw their funds from any bank across the country.”
The new approach aims to enhance convenience and reduce dependency on manual processes, ensuring greater transparency and accessibility for BISP beneficiaries.
Earlier, Chairman of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Rubina Khalid, has announced an increase in the quarterly payments under the Benazir Kafaalat programme, offering much-needed financial relief to marginalised families.
The payment amount will rise by Rs 3,000, bringing the total to Rs 13,500 per quarter, up from the previous Rs 10,500.
Launched in 2008, the BISP Kafaalat programme is the largest cash transfer initiative in Pakistan’s history. It aims to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households, with both short and long-term goals in mind.
In the short term, the initiative aims to protect disadvantaged groups from the adverse impacts of inflation, rising food prices, and slow economic growth.
Long-term, the BISP Kafaalat programme strives to eliminate extreme poverty and empower women, aligning with Pakistan’s commitments to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Currently, the BISP Kafaalat programme supports over 9.3 million families nationwide, and the government aims to extend assistance to 10 million families by next year.
Starting in January 2025, all registered families under the Benazir Kafaalat programme will receive Rs 13,500 every quarter, reflecting the government’s commitment to providing relief amid ongoing inflation.
