ISLAMABAD: In an effort to move towards a cashless economy, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) hosted a workshop on Thursday, aiming to make its payment system more transparent.

The event, titled “Transition to Cashless Economy: BISP Mobile Wallets Payment Model”, featured discussions on providing secure, efficient and dignified cash transfers directly to women beneficiaries. The workshop was attended by Minister of State for Finance and Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit Bilal Azhar Kayani and BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid.

“This is not just a policy intervention—it’s a national priority,” said Mr Kayani. He cited the recent rollout of the PM’s Ramzan Package—executed via mobile wallets—as a successful case study for scaling digital disbursements nationwide.

BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to empowering women through financial autonomy.

“At the direction of President Asif Ali Zardari, we are prioritising transparency and dignity in how women receive support. Our pilot for direct bank account opening will begin on August 14, a milestone in digital empowerment,” she announced.

She added that BISP’s requirement for designating the female head of household with a valid CNIC has become a game-changing safeguard for inclusion and women’s empowerment. “Every woman must have the right to choose her preferred bank and receive payments through secure biometric verification,” Senator Rubina Khalid stressed.

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2025