BISP introduces new payment disbursement mechanism

Pilot project allows beneficiaries to receive money in bank accounts of their choice

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Shazia Marri has announced the introduction of a new payment disbursement mechanism to the BISP beneficiaries by giving them the option to receive money in the bank accounts of their choice.

Initially, the mechanism will be introduced as a pilot in a few districts and will gradually be extended to the entire country.

The announcement came during the federal minister’s address to a press conference in Karachi on Thursday.

BISP Secretary Yusuf Khan, DGs of NSER & Cash Transfer Naveed Akbar and Noor Rehman Khan were also present on the occasion.

“Since its inception, the BISP has experienced various payment mechanisms like money orders through Pakistan Post, smart debit cards, mobile phone banking and the bio-metric verification system (BVS), she said.

“The current payment system has limited opportunities for beneficiaries under which they save their money, also there were complaints of deductions by pause agents,” she added.

The BISP chairperson opined that to make the payment system beneficiary centric, the BISP held a series of meetings with the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks, and as a result, the BISP is now launching a pilot project of a new payment system.

“This will empower these women and they will receive their funds in a dignified manner without standing in long queues,” she claimed and added that the new mechanism would also help maintain transparency in funds dispensation.

Marri further informed the media that the BISP is soon launching a dynamic registry survey to assess the socio-economic status of the households on a real basis.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2023.