ISLAMABAD: Secretary Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Amer Ali Ahmed on Monday reviewed the ongoing free SIMs distribution drive at the BISP headquarters, as the second phase of the nationwide rollout begins, expanding coverage to more than 100 districts across Pakistan.
So far, 112,122 SIMs have been distributed to beneficiaries across the country as part of the government’s initiative to strengthen digital financial inclusion, said an official statement on Monday.
During the meeting, the secretary BISP examined the real-time dashboard displaying updated data from all regions.
Representatives from telecom companies, Special Communications Organis-ation (SCO), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) also attended the review session.
The free SIMs initiative links digital wallets to the SIMs being issued, paving the way for a major transformation in the Programme’s payment system, said the statement.
“For the first time in BISP’s history, wallet accounts are being created for 10 million beneficiaries to ensure greater transparency, convenience, and a more dignified mode of payment,” BISP statement said.
The transition is expected to be completed by March 2026, integrating millions of low-income households into Pakistan’s digital financial ecosystem, it added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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