Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Monday urged those whose words may have hurt BISP beneficiaries’ sentiments to apologise.

While she did not specifically name anyone, the senator said this during a press conference in Islamabad after mentioning remarks by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ last week, Sanaullah claimed that the BISP data was “not accurate to the extent of Punjab”, alleged it was marred by corruption and remarked that the programme served no purpose other than turning people into beggars.

In her press conference, Khalid said it was not right to say that BISP was turning people into beggars, explaining that the programme catered to those who worked to earn a living. But, she continued, when they need financial assistance, it is the state’s responsibility to aid them without compromising their self-respect.

“BISP does not turn people into beggars; it prevents people from becoming one,” she said.

She then appealed to “all those giving such statements to abstain from doing so”.

“It is insulting,” she said. “No one has the right to insult, and I would appeal to them to apologise to [BISP beneficiary] families whose sentiments have been hurt by their words.”

She said while she was “open to suggestions” for the programme’s improvement, derogatory words about it.

The programme should not be “targeted for political motives”, she added.

Khalid said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had full confidence in the programme, sharing further details about BISP.

Moreover, she said the BISP database was the largest in the country after the database of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

“Saying that its data is incorrect, giving such sweeping statements — it takes years to build something and only a day is enough to destroy it,” she remarked.

According to a statement issued by BISP, the senator called negative propaganda against the programme “condemnable”, saying it safeguarded the dignity and economic empowerment of beneficiary women.

“The humiliation of poor and hardworking people is unacceptable, and those who have undermined the dignity of beneficiary families should apologise,” Khalid said.

During her press conference, Khalid also highlighted various accomplishments of BISP, particularly its Digital Wallet initiative.

She said that more than 8 million free “Benazir SIMs” had been distributed for the opening of digital wallets for beneficiary women to “eliminate unauthorised deductions and unnecessary difficulties in accessing payments”.

She noted that all BISP payments will be made via digital wallets from July 2026.

Khalid emphasised that the Digital Wallet initiative had been launched “to provide greater financial autonomy to women and improve the efficiency of payments”.

“More than 2.2 million women beneficiaries and their children are benefiting from the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which has contributed to a 22 per cent reduction in stunting,” the chairperson was quoted as saying in the statement.

In addition, under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, 6,000 young people have been enrolled for skills training in various sectors, and more than 12m children are benefiting from the educational support provided by the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme.

Khalid highlighted that BISP was recognised “not only in Pakistan but across the world” as a model programme for women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion, adding that several countries and international organisations were studying and learning from the BISP model.

The senator further said that the programme reflected the state’s commitment to protecting the dignity of poor and lower-middle-income households, according to the statement.