BISP Camp Sites Closed – Payments Will Now Be Taken from Shops Again

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has closed down temporary camp sites and returns all payment disbursements to shops, agents, and bank branches. This is the first time many beneficiaries will receive their funds in an integrated manner, and it will greatly simplify how payment distributions are done.

Payment distribution of BISP has

During the past several years, BISP has been one of the biggest and most aggressive social protection supports in the country, offering stipends every three months to women-headed families living in poverty. Initially in the payment distribution process, beneficiaries used retail shops and agents to get their money after biometric verification.

During the last payment phases, the government in various districts established temporary camping sites to better control payment distributions. They attempted to alleviate the burden on shops suffering from crowding and better organize the payment distribution process.

Unfortunately, the payment distribution process was severely disorganized and the camping sites were crowded and filled with long waiting lines and technical delays. They have ultimately decided to abandon the distribution process altogether in favor of the shop-based system.

How New Payment Systems Function

With the closure of camp sites, payments can now be made via retail shops, bank agents, and ATMs. The process is easy:

1.Steps Payments

Observe the nearest BISP-accredited retail shops, bank agents, or ATMs, as they are the only ones with the capability to fund accounts affiliated with BISP.

2.Identified Bank Account

Show your CNIC with a photo.

3.Fingerprint Authentication

Ensure that your thumb is properly placed on the biometric device.

4.Cash Payment

The cashier will verify your identity and bring out the cash.

5.Documentation

For better record keeping, always take a photocopy of the claimed amount, and ensure to keep copies of other essential documents.

• Reason for the Changes

Governments typically give several reasons for the closing of camp sites:

• Lack of Information: There were beneficiaries who had to stay in line for several days, only to learn that they were not going to receive assistance.

• Pollution: Many of the elderly as well as the children who stood in the sun and in the rain were severely affected the most.

• Once Systems are placed, they ought to be implemented.

• Lhe Self-Explanatory Claim: There were a number of agents as well as camp middlemen who used unethical practices and made deductions for personal gains.

• Economically Unviable: Managing the camp sites as well as setting them up resulted in higher than normal expenditure.

• To reduce the complexity ms well as costs, the government intends to move back to the use of agent and shops for payments.

Benefits of Receiving Payments from Shops

Payments from shops are expected to benefit the beneficiaries most.

• Convenience: Shops and agents are located within the towns and villages, thus travel time is reduced.

• Efficiency: Compared to large camps, shops are able to process payments more quickly because they deal with fewer people at a time.

• Accessibility: Most elderly woman as well as beneficiaries live within distance from where payments are made.

• Savings: Most camp setup costs are avoided and thus reduced expenditure is achieved.

• Reduced Expenditure: The costs of setting up tents and other supporting infrastructure for camps are significant.

• Reduced Expenditure: The costs of setting up camps for large scale cash distributions are avoided and thus reduced expenditure is achieved.

• Improved Expenditure: The large amounts of cash spent at any one time from government accounts is expected to reduce government surplus cash.

Undoubtedly there are a number of challenges beneficiaries are likely to face.

Difficulties beneficiaries have to face

• Long Queues: The elimination of distribution camps means that there will be more beneficiaries returning to shops.

• Lack of Resources: Small shops may not have sufficient payments to equip the payment terminal for large sums of money.

• Service Charge: Some shopkeepers may attempt to charge illegal service charges.

• Difficult Fluid Management: Like any other system, video links may not be available.

To assist resolve the above challenges, the government will increase monitoring as complaint channels to ensure payments are made smoothly.

How to Prepare and Submit a Formal Complaint

Beneficiaries having problems with payments can file a complaint by:

• Using Helpline 0800-26477 (toll free)

• Visiting a Regional BISP Office close to them for face-to-face help

• Sending an SMS with their CNIC to 8171 for payment information

• Online Complaint Office.

• Some of the more common complaints – unlawful and unreasonable payment deductions, wrongful denial of service, unreasonable delays, agent harassment, and other forms of mistreatment.

The government has assured that stiff penalties will be imposed on offenders.

Guidelines for Claimants and Beneficiaries

To avoid any problems, claimants and beneficiaries are advised to stick to the guidelines presented here.

• Always have the original CNIC with you.

• Never pay any additional service fees to shop owners.

• Make sure you have checked the payment status before going to the site for collection.

• Always collect the receipt at the end of the transaction and keep it carefully.

• If there is any activity that seems deliberate and suspicious, you have to report it.

Plans for Payment System:

The government is working on programs to digitally transform BISP. Some of the stated goals are:

• Eliminate any and all middlemen and pay the beneficiaries directly to their bank accounts.

• Ease cash withdrawal by enabling mobile wallets.

• Dramatically increase the number of ATMs available for cashing out through fingerprint and other biometric systems.

• Mobile Registration Vans: Vehicles will visit remote areas to register new families and facilitate payments. .

Conclusion

The closing of the BISP camp sites and the reopening of payments through shops is a big leap forward in terms of ease of use and transparency. While camps were beneficial in certain periods of high demand, the ability to access shops saves beneficiaries on travel and provides faster payouts. Beneficiaries are encouraged to stay alert, and to claim all payments, especially those that are incremental, and to flag discrepancies.