ISLAMABAD: “Approximately 5.6 million free SIMs have so far been distributed nationwide to the beneficiaries under the Social Protection Wallets initiative of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).” Secretary BISP Amer Ali Ahmad stated this in a meeting with a delegation of civil servants that paid a visit to the BISP headquarters. The launch of Social Protection Wallets for 10 million deserving women is one of the largest social protection transformations in Pakistan’s history, he said, hosting the delegation of 45th Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC) of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Peshawar. The initiative ensures BISP’s support to the poorest households living below the poverty line, said an official statement, issued on Tuesday, quoting the secretary BISP as having informed the delegation. The delegation comprising nearly three dozen officers from various government departments visited the BISP headquarters for field research to gain first-hand insight into BISP’s mandate and key initiatives, the statement added. The National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) is BISP’s key strength managing a database comprising 38.7 million households, Secretary Ahmad briefed the delegation. The launch of Social Protection Wallets for 10 million deserving women, along with free SIMs, is one of the largest social protection transformations in Pakistan’s history aimed at ensuring secure, transparent, and convenient payments, he said. Under this initiative, up to 10.6 million free SIMs would be distributed to the BISP beneficiaries nationwide, he said. “The BISP supports the poorest households living below the poverty line, with a special focus on women as the primary beneficiaries, promoting financial inclusion, mobility, and economic empowerment,” the secretary said. The delegation was further briefed on the BISP initiatives including Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs), Digital and Financial Literacy Training (DFLT), Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS), Hybrid Social Protection Scheme (HSPS) and Benazir Hunarmand Programme. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026