For the first time in 16 years, over 10 million of Pakistan’s poorest women have become account holders and will soon receive monthly cash stipends under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) without relying on agents or standing in long queues. The initiative represents a major shift toward financial inclusion and digital payments for women who had previously been underserved by commercial banks.
Historically, BISP beneficiaries did not hold proper bank accounts and were forced to rely on limited liability accounts managed through agents. These arrangements often involved transaction fees of 0.5% and sometimes allowed banks to use beneficiary funds without paying interest. The milestone of opening 10 million accounts was achieved following high-level government coordination and persistent efforts by the BISP Secretariat, according to Amir Ali Ahmed, BISP Secretary.
The newly introduced mobile wallet accounts, linked to the computerised national identity cards of the beneficiaries, allow women to receive stipends directly through their mobile phones. As of now, Habib Bank Limited has opened the highest number of accounts at 3.1 million, followed by Bank Al-Falah Limited with 3 million, Bank of Punjab with 2 million, JazzCash with 1.2 million, and Easypaisa with nearly 700,000 accounts.
The government is distributing free SIM cards, contributed by telecom companies, to ensure accessibility. Beneficiaries will receive cash only through biometric verification, eliminating dependency on middlemen or male family members. So far, 1.7 million SIM cards have been issued, with a target of 30% coverage by the end of next month and 80% by March 2026. The government aims to make 100% of BISP payments digital by June 2026, a goal emphasized by Finance Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani as part of the country’s broader cashless economy initiative.
The distribution plan prioritizes provincial coverage, including 5.1 million SIM cards in Punjab, 2.6 million in Sindh, 2.2 million in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 485,000 in Balochistan, 167,360 in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, 115,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 21,000 in Islamabad Capital Territory. The government provides quarterly stipends of Rs13,500, with an expected increase to Rs14,500 from January as part of IMF conditions, backed by a budget allocation of Rs716 billion for the programme.
This digital transition is part of a multi-agency effort involving the Ministry of Information Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and the National Database & Registration Authority. These institutions coordinate SIM distribution, regulatory compliance, and biometric verification, ensuring secure and efficient disbursement.
Challenges remain, including reaching women who do not own mobile phones and the limited availability of biometric-enabled ATMs—fewer than 6,000 out of roughly 16,000. To overcome this, beneficiaries can access funds through local shops equipped with biometric facilities.
The BISP’s move to fully digital payments not only reduces exploitation by agents but also empowers women financially, offering faster, safer, and more convenient access to social protection benefits. This initiative represents a significant step toward financial inclusion and modernization of Pakistan’s social welfare system.
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