Nationwide rollout of free SIMs for BISP’s social protection wallet to transform financial access for millions – Associated Press of Pakistan

Pakistan’s Social Protection Wallet Initiative: A Report on Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Government of Pakistan, through the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, has launched a landmark initiative to distribute free SIM cards to beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). This program, termed the “Social Protection Wallet,” aims to establish a secure and efficient payment ecosystem that enhances transparency, digital access, and financial inclusion for 10.6 million women. The initiative is a significant national effort that directly supports the achievement of multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The program’s design and objectives are intrinsically linked to the global development agenda, with a strong emphasis on the following SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By creating a direct, secure, and transparent channel for financial entitlements, the initiative strengthens the social safety net. It ensures that aid effectively reaches the most vulnerable populations, directly addressing poverty and reducing economic disparities for millions of low-income women.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The program is a major step toward empowering women by providing them with independent control over their finances through individual bank accounts. This fosters financial autonomy and digital literacy, making it one of the largest global exercises in women’s economic empowerment.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) & SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By integrating 10.6 million women into the formal financial system, the initiative expands the economic base. It leverages digital and banking infrastructure to build a more inclusive and resilient economy.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): A core objective is to enhance the transparency and integrity of the social protection system. The digital payment mechanism is designed to reduce fraud and improve accountability, thereby strengthening the BISP as a public institution.

Implementation Details and Scope

The nationwide rollout is a coordinated effort involving multiple government bodies to ensure comprehensive coverage and accessibility.

1. Target Beneficiaries: The program is set to provide free SIMs and associated bank accounts to 10.6 million women enrolled in the BISP.
2. Pilot Phase Launch: A pilot phase was initiated on November 17 across 41 districts, recording an overwhelming response with 22,000 SIMs distributed within the first two days.
3. Financial Inclusion Mechanism: In collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, every beneficiary will be provided with an individual, interoperable bank account. This allows for fund withdrawals from any partner bank’s channels, enhancing convenience and reducing dependency.
4. Distribution Timeline: All eligible women have been instructed to collect their free SIMs from designated BISP offices or campsites by the deadline of December 31.

Ministerial Oversight and Conclusion

During a high-level review meeting, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, alongside BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid, reviewed the implementation progress. The Minister commended the pace of work and directed all regional teams to ensure the timely facilitation of beneficiaries. This beneficiary-centric initiative is poised to transform Pakistan’s social protection landscape by creating a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive system that aligns with critical Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article focuses on the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a government initiative for “Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety.” This directly connects to SDG 1, which aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The program provides financial entitlements to the most vulnerable segments of the population.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The initiative specifically targets “millions of women across Pakistan,” aiming to empower them by providing “safe, independent, and direct access to their financial entitlements.” This aligns with SDG 5’s goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • By providing beneficiaries with individual, interoperable bank accounts and access to financial services, the program promotes “financial inclusion.” This is a key component of SDG 8, which seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The program is designed to support “the most vulnerable women” and “low-income women,” directly addressing the goal of reducing inequality within the country by empowering and promoting the social and economic inclusion of marginalized groups.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
   • The article describes the BISP as a “system of social protection” being transformed to provide a “Social Protection Wallet” for its beneficiaries, explicitly aiming to cover “10.6 million beneficiaries” who are identified as the poor and vulnerable.
2. Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
   • The core of the initiative is the distribution of free SIMs to women, which is a key information and communications technology tool. The article states this will lead to “digital access” and “digital transformation” for millions of women, thereby empowering them.
3. Target 8.10: Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.
   • The article highlights that “every BISP beneficiary will now have an individual, interoperable bank account.” This initiative, supported by the State Bank of Pakistan, directly expands access to banking and financial services for a large, previously underserved population.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • The program specifically targets “low-income women” for “financial inclusion.” By giving them direct control over their finances and integrating them into the formal financial system, the initiative actively promotes their economic inclusion.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 1.3: Proportion of population covered by social protection systems.
   • The article provides a clear quantitative measure for this indicator. It states, “The overall nationwide target is 10.6 million beneficiaries,” which represents the intended coverage of this social protection initiative.
2. Indicator for Target 5.b: Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex.
   • The initiative’s primary activity is the distribution of “free SIMs to Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) beneficiaries,” who are women. The article mentions that “22,000 free SIMs distributed in just two days” and the goal of reaching 10.6 million women provides a direct way to measure the increase in mobile technology ownership among this specific female demographic.
3. Indicator for Target 8.10: Proportion of adults with an account at a bank or other financial institution.
   • The article implies this indicator by stating that “every BISP beneficiary will now have an individual, interoperable bank account.” The progress can be measured by tracking the number of the 10.6 million targeted women who successfully open and use these accounts.
4. Indicator for Target 10.2: Number of beneficiaries from vulnerable groups included in the financial system.
   • The article explicitly identifies the target group as “the most vulnerable women of Pakistan” and “low-income women.” The number of women who receive SIMs and are integrated into the “formal financial inclusion” system serves as a direct indicator of progress. The target of 10.6 million beneficiaries is the key metric.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: app.com.pk