Beneficiaries Can Open BISP Sahulat Account-SBP Payment Framework

Last updated on January 1st, 2025 at 10:12 am

BISP Sahulat Account has traditionally supported social welfare in Pakistan by providing cash to millions of poor families. Very recently, the State Bank of Pakistan announced a fresh payment mechanism whereby about 9.3 million beneficiaries under this have been enabled to open a “BISP Sahulat Account” for smooth disbursement of funds, thereby promoting financial inclusions and digital banking services among the underprivileged.

Importance of the BISP Program:

The Benazir Income Support Program was an idea launched in 2025 to give monetary assistance to the poorest segments of society. The program was so named to recognize former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who focused on alleviating poverty and empowering women by availing them of financial resources. Though it has grown in reach and impact over the years, it has faced criticism regarding the misutilization of funds and inefficiency in disbursement.

New SBP Payment Framework

In the wake of the problems, It is proposing an all-comprehensive payment framework whereby beneficiaries could open a dedicated bank account. The concept is to enable the direct transfer of financial assistance to the beneficiaries to ensure receipt by them more safely and efficiently.

BISP Sahulat Account Salient Features 

Single Visit Account Opening: The beneficiaries can open their Account in just one visit to the designated bank branches. This facility is quite important for most of the beneficiaries who cannot afford multiple visits to the banking facility.

Mapping Beneficiaries to Bank Branches: It has mapped its beneficiaries to nearby bank branches so that people can access banking services with much ease and don’t have to travel long distances.

Smooth Distribution of financing: The setup is designed to facilitate efficiency and transparency in the distribution of funds. Transferring funds into the accounts ensures less fraud and other misuses.

Financial support: The main and only aim is to improve the financial condition of women and poor families in economic activities. With access to banking services, recipients can cope with their finances better and participate in formal economic activities.

Digital Banking benefit: The intervention encourages the digitization of services, particularly to modernization of the banking sector in Pakistan. Digital banking will offer better means of access and management of funds to the recipients.

Eligibility criteria for opening of BISP Sahulat Account

The State Bank of Pakistan launched BISP Sahulat Account initiative as a means to support 9.3 million receivers under the Benazir Income Support Program in accessing their assistance with convenience. This account will allow receivers to directly have their monthly stipends transferred to their BISP Sahulat Account for smooth processing and, at the same time, promote financial inclusion. Below, the eligibility criteria for opening are outlined in detail.

1. Status 

To Avail of this,  one must be a registered beneficiary mainly, targets low-income families, especially women from those families, for assistance in terms of daily needs. Targeting would be based on the following:

Income Level: The program covers families with low income, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.

Enrollment: Receivers will be enrolled officially through a valid CNIC.

2. Age Requirement

Though there is no specific age limit imposed to open an account with, it is usually entitled to adults, aged 18 years and above, since beneficiaries are to be present with their CNIC as part of the account opening process.

3. Documentation

Eligible receivers must obtain the under-mentioned Bisp documents for the Sahulat Account:

BISP Sahulat Account:

CNIC: A photocopy of CNIC is required for the verification of identity and eligibility BISP Sahulat Account.

Application Form: The recipients are required to fill in the application form, which may be obtained from concerned bank branches or can also be downloaded from the website.

Proof of Registration: Proof of registration can be sought to ensure that only the registered beneficiaries open the account.

4. Accessibility of Bank Branches

They should be able to access the bank branches where they can be opened with ease. In this regard, It has mapped its users to the nearest bank branches so people do not have to travel quite a distance from their residences to be able to have access to banking services.

5.BISP Sahulat Account Biometric Verification

Biometric verifications of the heirs for the security over the account opening process will be done at the branch. This is one major step in the confirmation of the identity of an account holder and fraud prevention.

Benefits of the BISP Sahulat Account

The introduction of it has various benefits to them and the economy at large, including:

Security: Transfers into bank accounts reduce risks associated with cash disbursements, including theft and mismanagement.

Financial Literacy: Recipients will be exposed to banks and, in turn, learn how to manage finances, save, and access other banking facilities.

Women Empowerment: The program selects women as the target group directly and provides them with financial resources that motivate them to engage in economic activities.

Transparency: The disbursement of money through digital transactions can increase the level of transparency. The tracking down of corruption is possible, as one can trace at which level the money was misused.

Economic Growth: This program has been able to ensure the low-income families’ contribution towards generating economic activity on account of its inclusion in a banking-related system. 

BISP Training Guidelines

It has established a Training Wing that regularly conducts different training for its staff members, which also encompasses DLI-based training as part of donor commitments.

• The purpose of the training is to ensure uniform quality services to the recipients,
• Orientation, departmental, management, organizational and technical, and revised job description and operational guidelines comprise the major scope of the training.

Skill Training

Chairperson BISP Rubina Khalid emphasized the initiation of a quality, internationally standard skill training program, to equip them with such skills that may lead to job opportunities abroad and improve their socio-economic outlook.

Implementation BISP Sahulat Account Process

Accordingly, the partnership involves a phase-by-phase integration of JazzCash and BISP. JazzCash will lead in the process of identifying users and onboarding them with the help of BISP, verifying their eligibility for access to the company’s services. Training and support will be provided to the users to understand the new system and use of the facilities of JazzCash services regarding cash withdrawal and mobile wallet transactions. The partnership shall be subject to continuous monitoring and evaluation to ascertain effectiveness, while consultations with beneficiaries will be made to provide feedback for the improvement of the objectives of the initiative.

Conclusion

The BISP Sahulat Account within the SBP payment framework is a huge step toward enhancing the financial state of low-income families in Pakistan. This will be highly instrumental in bringing efficiency, transparency, and security in the process of disbursement through direct transfers of financial assistance to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Moreover, in the step-by-step implementation process of this program, there has to be coordination between the government and the bank, hence among all beneficiaries, in working out their challenges in benefits meant for beneficiaries truly. Eventually, this will enable to empower millions of beneficiaries and help improve their financial literacy, contributing significantly to the country’s economic development as a whole.