Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), has announced a major step to empower women. She revealed that personal bank accounts will soon be opened for all BISP beneficiary women.
The initiative aims to deliver financial assistance in a transparent, efficient, and dignified way. Khalid said that the pilot phase will begin on August 14, 2025, in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, and Peshawar.
Beneficiaries will receive financial support directly in their bank accounts, allowing easy and independent access to funds. She also shared that work is underway to enable payments through Digital Wallet Accounts in the future.
Khalid further highlighted that on June 21, 2025, the birth anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, President Asif Ali Zardari launched the Benazir Hunarmand Program.
Under this project, BISP women and their family members will receive technical and vocational training that meets international standards. The objective is to help beneficiaries gain marketable skills, secure better employment, and become self-reliant.
She noted that there is a global demand for skilled labor, and this program can transform the lives of countless deserving families.
The BISP Chairperson acknowledged the support of stakeholders including NAVTTC, provincial TEVTAs, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, and the Friends of BISP platform.
She also mentioned that BISP is now recognized worldwide as a successful social welfare model. Last year, international delegations visited Pakistan to study its approach and replicate it in their own countries.
Currently, nearly 10 million families benefit from BISP financial assistance. Additionally, the Benazir Nashonuma Program supports pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under two, helping reduce malnutrition and stunting by 6.5% in Pakistan.
Khalid credited President Asif Ali Zardari’s vision for empowering women and formally including them in the national database.
She said that making the housewife the head of the household and requiring a CNIC for enrollment are among the key features that have made BISP a model of inclusive social welfare.
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