10 Million Women Get BISP Bank Accounts as Pakistan Moves Toward Full Digital Payments

Pakistan has taken a major step toward digital welfare payments. More than 10 million women enrolled in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) now have their own bank accounts. This change comes after 16 years of delays, barriers, and dependence on agents. For the first time, these women will soon receive their monthly stipends directly and without long queues.

For many years, BISP beneficiaries did not have proper accounts. They received money through limited liability accounts managed by commercial banks. These banks charged fees but did not treat the women like regular clients. In some cases, banks even used the funds without giving any interest to the women or the government. The system caused frustration, delays, and frequent misuse.

10 Million Women Get BISP Bank Accounts as Pakistan Moves Toward Full Digital Payments

According to BISP officials, opening these 10 million accounts took long meetings and coordination at the highest levels of government. But the effort has now paid off. The new accounts are mobile wallet accounts. They allow simple payments and fast transactions. Women can now access their money through their phones.

HBL has opened the highest number of accounts, with about 3.1 million. Bank Alfalah follows with 3 million. The Bank of Punjab opened 2 million. JazzCash and Easypaisa have also joined, providing 1.2 million and 700,000 accounts, respectively. Each account is linked to the woman’s national identity card.

The government is also giving free SIM cards. Telecom companies are contributing these SIMs as part of a nationwide push to support digital welfare. So far, 1.7 million SIM cards have been distributed. The goal is to deliver at least 30 percent of all required SIMs by next month. By the end of March, the target is to reach 80 percent.

Beneficiaries will not use debit cards. All withdrawals will require biometric verification. This eliminates the role of agents and reduces the chance of fraud. It also limits interference from male family members who, in the past, often collected the cash.

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s goal is to make all BISP payments fully digital by June 2026. The plan includes distributing 5.1 million SIMs in Punjab, 2.6 million in Sindh, and 2.2 million in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Smaller regions like Balochistan, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad will also receive thousands of SIMs.

The BISP stipend is currently Rs 13,500 per quarter. This amount is expected to rise to Rs14,500 from January under an IMF condition. The government has allocated Rs716 billion to BISP in the current budget.

Several government bodies are working together on this shift. The Ministry of IT is handling SIM distribution. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is ensuring compliance and security. NADRA is verifying identities through biometrics. One challenge remains: fewer than 6,000 of the country’s 16,000 ATMs support biometric access. To fill the gap, women can use nearby shops equipped with biometric devices.

This digital move marks a major change for social protection in Pakistan. It promises more dignity, less waiting, and greater control for millions of women who depend on BISP.