Overview
- Senator Rubina Khalid held a press conference on Monday to demand an apology for remarks she said insulted BISP beneficiary families and to defend the programme's record.
- The remarks in question were made last week by Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, who said BISP 'turns people into beggars' and questioned the accuracy of its data.
- BISP announced that starting July 2026 all payments will be made via digital wallets and said it has already distributed over 8 million free 'Benazir SIMs' to open wallets for women beneficiaries.
- The agency said the digital wallets will work with an interoperability system and a three‑year household re‑certification process to reduce unauthorised deductions and improve access for women who face biometric issues.
- BISP emphasised its scale and outcomes, saying it serves more than 10 million families and runs linked programmes that register 2.2 million mothers and claim a 22% drop in stunting, while inviting constructive suggestions and warning against political targeting.