ISLAMABAD: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has launched Social Protection Wallets for its one million registered beneficiaries in order to make the stipend system more transparent and easier.

For this purpose, the social safety net has begun distributing free SIMs to as many eligible women.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had directed BISP to introduce this new payment model for its beneficiaries, marking a historic step towards digital financial inclusion.

This initiative is among the largest social protection projects in the world, BISP claimed.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson BISP, Senator Rubina Khalid, shared important guidelines regarding the Social Protection Wallet.

She stated that eligible women must visit their nearest BISP office or designated camp site with their original CNIC and active mobile phone. After biometric verification, they will be

provided a free mobile SIM, which will be used to activate their Social Protection Wallet.

Senator Rubina Khalid strongly cautioned women not to pay anyone for the SIM, as it is completely free of cost.

She emphasised that the Social Protection Wallet will be activated on this SIM only by BISP and advised women that they should not contact any unauthorised external sources to get it activated.

She added that this new system will make the disbursement of BISP funds more convenient, secure, and transparent.

The chairperson further stated that in future, all BISP instalments and stipends will be transferred exclusively through this social protection wallet, and all payment-related messages will also be received on this particular SIM.

In her message for beneficiaries, she reiterated that “This SIM is not an ordinary SIM, it is a digital wallet that holds your financial power, and must be protected with the same care as your personal purse.”

This project is an important milestone in making Pakistan’s deserving women more empowered and financially independent.

She advised all eligible women to collect their free SIMs from BISP offices or designated camp sites by December 31.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2025