Transparency, service delivery and customer care are the guiding principles of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). BISP has made significant improvements in its payment modes since inception. Payments through biometric verification system (BVS) would eliminate the middle man culture making it more transparent and efficient. This was stated by Minister of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon while inaugurating BVS in Rahim Yar Khan in the presence of BISP beneficiaries, BISP officials, local politicians, notables and media.
In Rahim Yar Khan, payments to 148,565 beneficiaries were made through Benazir Debit Card that has been shifted to biometric based withdrawal mechanism. For the purpose of biometric withdrawal, 303 POS (Point of Sale) throughout the district have been established so that beneficiaries may be able to withdraw their stipends easily, saving their time and travel costs. Chairperson BISP visited various POS and observed the beneficiaries withdrawing their amounts through BVS.
On the occasion, Chairperson BISP reiterated that the mandatory presence of beneficiary to receive payment would make her financially more empowered as per Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar’s vision of financial inclusion. To receive payment through BVS, beneficiary would present CNIC only at POS (Point of Sale) or franchisee of the partner bank and affix her thumb impression for the withdrawal. A system generated receipt would be given to her showing the record of payment and balance.
Chairperson added that BISP is recognized internationally for its state of the art operational mechanisms and commitment to the poorest of the poor. It is a unique program that not only helps the poor in their survival through cash grants; it undertakes to enable beneficiaries to exit poverty in the long term by educating their children as well through its Waseela-e-Taleem initiative.
BVS is the most simplified and user friendly payment mode with less security tiers as compared to other modes of payment. In 2008, when BISP started its operations, payments were made through Pakistan Post. Gradually, the payment system was shifted to smart cards, mobile phone banking and debit cards. At present, 10.34 % of beneficiaries are drawing their stipend through BVS, 88.37% through debit cards and 3.22% through Pakistan Post. 1% of the beneficiaries that received stipend through mobile banking have been shifted to BVS.
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