The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has launched a nationwide awareness and training campaign to prepare women beneficiaries for its new digital payment system, aiming to make the distribution of financial assistance more accessible and convenient across Pakistan. The initiative focuses on educating beneficiaries about the payment process, while strengthening the capacity of programme staff to guide women through the transition to digital financial services. Under the new arrangement, beneficiaries will be able to withdraw their payments from any authorised retailer of partner banks across the country after receiving a payment confirmation SMS. The system’s interoperability feature is intended to provide greater flexibility by allowing eligible women to access their funds in different cities rather than depending exclusively on specific payment centres.
Addressing the opening training session, BISP Additional Secretary Dr Asmat Nawaz emphasised that effective staff training, capacity building and widespread awareness among women beneficiaries would be essential for the successful implementation of the digital payment system. He highlighted the need to ensure that programme personnel understand the new procedures and can explain them clearly to beneficiaries. The awareness campaign is designed to help women become familiar with the payment process, understand the role of authorised retailers and learn how to access their assistance securely. By improving the information available to beneficiaries before and during implementation, BISP aims to reduce confusion and make the new arrangements easier to use, particularly for women who may require assistance navigating digital payment services.
A key feature of the new system is interoperability, which allows beneficiaries to withdraw their payments from authorised retailers of partner banks in any city according to their convenience. Dr Asmat Nawaz said this facility would reduce dependence on designated payment centres and help address the travel expenses and difficulties women may encounter when collecting their assistance. Under a more flexible arrangement, beneficiaries can access their payments through participating retailers without being restricted to a single designated location. This could be particularly helpful for women living in areas where reaching a specific payment centre requires additional time, transport costs or assistance from family members. The programme’s awareness activities are intended to ensure beneficiaries understand where and how they can collect their payments under the new system.
The training campaign also places emphasis on the safe use of digital wallets, mobile phones and SIM cards. Dr Asmat Nawaz urged BISP staff to guide women on protecting their mobile devices and SIM cards, retaining transaction-related SMS messages and verifying that they receive their full entitled payments. These instructions are intended to improve beneficiaries’ awareness of basic digital security practices and help them recognise the importance of safeguarding information associated with their financial assistance. As payment services increasingly rely on electronic confirmations and digital channels, beneficiaries need clear guidance on keeping their devices secure and maintaining records that may be useful if a transaction requires verification or a complaint needs to be submitted.
Dr Asmat Nawaz also made it clear that unauthorised deductions from beneficiaries’ payments would not be tolerated. The warning highlights the importance of ensuring that women receive the full amount of assistance due to them when collecting funds through authorised payment channels. Beneficiaries experiencing payment-related problems or suspecting improper deductions have been advised to contact the BISP helpline at 0800-26477 or visit their relevant tehsil office for assistance. These complaint channels provide a route for women to raise concerns and seek support when they encounter difficulties accessing their payments. The programme’s emphasis on complaint reporting and payment protection forms an important part of the awareness campaign, alongside training on how to use the new system.
The programme acknowledged the support of UNICEF’s Social Policy Section in organising the training activities. The opening session was attended by Director General Operations and Monitoring Adnan Ghuman, Director General Punjab Naseeruddin Sarwar, Director Payment Faisal Aslam, Director Media Qurat ul Ain Fatima, Director Central Zone Waqar-un-Nisa and Deputy Director Training Dr Qurat ul Ain. Consultants Farrukh and Hamza, along with other BISP and Punjab officials and staff, also participated. Their involvement reflects the coordination required to prepare programme personnel for the new payment arrangements and communicate the relevant procedures to beneficiaries across different areas.
The nationwide campaign represents BISP’s effort to support the adoption of digital payment services while improving access to social protection assistance for women. The ability to withdraw funds through authorised retailers of partner banks could reduce the practical difficulties associated with travelling to designated payment centres, while awareness of digital security and complaint procedures may help beneficiaries protect their payments. The effectiveness of the new system will depend on clear communication, trained staff, accessible authorised retailers and an effective response to payment-related complaints. By combining training with guidance on secure transactions and beneficiaries’ rights, BISP aims to make the digital payment process more convenient, accessible and reliable for women receiving financial assistance throughout Pakistan.
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