More than 12,000 beneficiaries of the federal government’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) have registered for the Hybrid Social Protection Scheme (HSPS) through JazzCash, giving low-income households access to a digital savings mechanism designed to strengthen their financial resilience. The programme allows eligible beneficiaries to set aside money through their JazzCash wallets while receiving additional contributions from the government and JazzCash, creating an incentive for participants to develop a regular savings habit.
Beneficiaries can voluntarily join HSPS when they visit their respective BISP Tehsil offices to collect their payments. At the offices, agents explain the savings programme and its terms to eligible individuals. Those who decide to participate provide their consent, after which the enrolment process is completed through the HSPS application. This approach allows beneficiaries to make an informed choice about participation while integrating the savings option into an existing social protection payment process.
Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can save either PKR 1,500 or PKR 3,000 during each quarter. The amount can be deposited as a single contribution or through smaller instalments during the quarter. The government provides a contribution equivalent to 40% of the beneficiary’s quarterly savings, while JazzCash adds a further 2%. The combined structure is intended to encourage households to put aside funds that can later provide additional support when they face unexpected financial needs.
The savings, along with the contributions provided by the government and JazzCash, remain held for two years before they become available for withdrawal. The arrangement gives participating households an opportunity to build a financial reserve rather than relying entirely on short-term assistance. Participation remains voluntary throughout the programme, and beneficiaries can choose to leave the scheme by providing their consent. However, participants who do not make a savings contribution for three consecutive quarters are automatically removed from the programme.
Eligibility for HSPS is determined through BISP’s National Socio-Economic Registry, linking participation to the government’s established social protection framework. The scheme operates under BISP’s Crisis Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) Programme, which is funded by the World Bank. JazzCash serves as the sole implementation partner for HSPS under an agreement with Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited, bringing its digital wallet infrastructure into the delivery of the savings component.
Arif Mahmood Chaudhary, Head of Public Sector Partnerships at JazzCash, said the programme demonstrates how collaboration between public institutions and private-sector digital platforms can support financial inclusion. He said the combination of BISP’s social protection mandate and JazzCash’s digital infrastructure is helping underserved households develop savings habits and improve their financial resilience, while the company remains focused on initiatives that expand access to secure and inclusive financial services.
Through HSPS, BISP and JazzCash are seeking to make formal savings more accessible as part of beneficiaries’ everyday financial activities. The programme places particular emphasis on deserving women and transgender beneficiaries and provides them with a structured mechanism to accumulate savings alongside government and private-sector contributions. With more than 12,000 beneficiaries already registered through JazzCash, the initiative represents an expansion of digital financial services within Pakistan’s social protection system and provides participating households with an additional tool for managing future financial pressures.
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