NA Panel Pushes Early Launch of Digital Banking for BISP Payments [July Update]

Benazir Income Support’s latest payment disbursement is continuing across the nation through the new retail network model and beneficiaries are collecting their Cash swiftly from the cash counter. 

However the National Assembly committee has urged the swift implementation of the digital banking system for disbursing payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).  

NA Warns: Poverty May Hit 50%, Urges BISP Reforms

On Thursday, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety expressed concern over the nation’s rising poverty rate, which is currently close to 50%, and emphasized the necessity of taking action to stop the trend.

In order to curb the rise in poverty, the committee emphasized the necessity of improving the effectiveness of the social protection system, particularly the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). It aimed to hasten the shift of social safety nets to a more open, technologically advanced system that requires less human involvement.

NA Panel Seeks Digital Disbursement System to Reform BISP 

In order to decrease human involvement in Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) disbursements, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety directed an accelerated rollout and discussed delays in the much-anticipated digital banking pilot project’s June launch.

The committee also demanded that Pakistan’s social protection system undergo immediate adjustments, promoting a shift to a completely transparent, technologically driven approach with less human intervention.

Also Read: How To Register In BISP Hunarmand Program: July Update 2025

Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, who chaired the committee’s tenth session at Parliament House, emphasized the significance of minimizing human intervention in income support systems in order to maintain the dignity of recipients and guarantee more effective, transparent financial aid distribution.

BISP To Open Beneficiaries Account On 15th August

The initiative, which has been developed over the past year, will be operational within a week, according to the Acting Governor SBP, and the first beneficiary accounts will be opened by August 15, 2025. Before expanding it across the country, the pilot will first be implemented in seven districts and one more district of Muzzafargarh. It will then be evaluated for six months, or two quarters, to determine its results.

SBP intends to extend ATM networks, use a staggered distribution mechanism to ease congestion, and progressively roll out digital wallets in order to increase accessibility and efficiency.

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Issuance Of Debit Card, SBP plans to expand ATM networks

Only in the event that fingerprint authentication is unsuccessful will debit cards be issued. The concept will be evaluated for six months following the pilot phase before being expanded across the country.

SBP intends to roll out digital wallets, implement staggered payment distributions, and extend ATM networks in order to increase accessibility and lessen traffic. Additionally, testing for API integration and two-factor authentication is underway.

Women Should Receive Payment With Dignity

Concerns over the treatment of beneficiaries at banks and camps were raised by committee members. The banking industry is dedicated to provide all beneficiaries with dignity, security, and full service access, the Acting Governor of SBP said.

In order to improve biometric dependability in remote locations, the committee also suggested linking mobile data repositories with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

In terms of institutional issues, BISP found that 1,858 regular employees and 2,347 authorized jobs are occupied out of 3,486 total. The committee observed that an over-reliance on deputation workers raises expenses and jeopardizes the sustainability of the organization.

BISP Urged to Expand Offices, Fill Staff Gaps, and Speed Up Digital Pilot

The Finance Division explained that, in accordance with IMF-imposed budgetary constraints, hiring falls under the purview of the Cabinet and Establishment Division.

In order to boost outreach, the committee authorized the relocation of BISP offices to neglected areas like Munda and Balambat and advised BISP to work with pertinent ministries to alleviate staffing shortages.

At the end of the session, it was decided to expedite the distribution of the digital pilot while maintaining strict control, openness, and beneficiary rights protection.

Conclusion

The National Assembly committee has strongly emphasized the urgent need to reform the BISP payment system through digital banking to ensure transparency, reduce human interference, and protect beneficiaries’ dignity. With the pilot launch set for August 15, the move aims to improve service delivery, expand outreach, and address growing poverty through a more efficient and accountable system.