New SBP Guidelines For Opening BISP Sahulat Accounts [2025 Update]

Here is an exciting piece of news for all the registered BISP Beneficiaries who have not yet opened their accounts in Banks, the Director State Bank Of Pakistan has strictly advised all the responsible banks and microfinance to facilitate the beneficiaries for opening BISP accounts in different bank branches. And for this reason he sets new SBP Guidelines to further enhance and speed up this process.

During the pilot phase, the updated framework with the following changes will be used first for onboarding 8171 BISP beneficiaries in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Muzaffargarh, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.

Beneficiaries To Open BISP Sahulat Accounts: SBP

To expedite the process of transferring funds straight into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has released an updated Facilitation Framework for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Sahulat Accounts.

It has been determined to update the previously mentioned framework in order to further enhance the procedure.

Regions Included In SBP Pilot Project

Building upon BPRD Circular No. 01 of April 8, 2024, the revised framework will first be tested in the following areas:

Karachi,
Lahore,
Islamabad,
Quetta,
Peshawar,
Muzaffargarh,
Muzaffarabad,
and Gilgit

SBP Issued Revised Facilitation Framework For Beneficiaries

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a revised facilitation framework to simplify and improve banking access for beneficiaries of government support programs, including BISP.

This updated policy aims to ensure faster account opening, secure transactions, and better financial inclusion for low-income families across Pakistan.

On Boarding Of BISP Beneficiaries

The banks will receive account opening information from BISP through a mutually secure arrangement. Additionally, through NADRA, BISP would confirm the validity of beneficiaries’ CNICs and other information before forwarding it to the banks.
Following receipt of the information from BISP, banks are required to screen the beneficiary’s details against the lists of individuals prohibited by the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 and designated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in addition to other pertinent lists.
Beneficiary accounts must be opened by banks in the branches designated by BISP. After that, banks will create IBANs for these accounts and provide them to BISP in a safe and mutually agreed-upon manner. Nevertheless, until the activation procedure is finished, the accounts that have been opened in this manner will remain inactive.
In some circumstances, if the beneficiary’s bank does not have a branch nearby, they may be able to move their account to another bank, according to procedures that will be decided by SBP/BISP.
In order to provide its beneficiaries with information about the bank branch where their accounts are opened and the dates of their branch visit for account activation and payments, BISP will launch an SMS service and web portal where they can enter their CNIC numbers to a short code or web portal.
After beneficiaries visit the appropriate branch with a valid CNIC, banks will use biometric verification to activate their bank accounts and notify BISP in accordance with the established procedure.
Additionally, banks must obtain verbal approval from BISP beneficiaries and document it by checking the appropriate box in their systems for the following:

if necessary, the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) or the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
acceptance of these accounts’ terms and conditions (T&Cs).
Opening an account and using the data and documents obtained through the aforementioned procedure for supervisory and due diligence purposes.

The bank will activate the beneficiaries’ accounts and start the process of issuing a checkbook with at least five leaves while they are there.
Banks must start the PayPal debit card issuance process and notify BISP for beneficiaries whose BV could not be completed for valid reasons.

Call centers
ATMs
SMS
Web Portals
Others

Following account activation, BISP will transfer monies into these accounts via RAAST/IBFT and notify the beneficiaries to pick up their funds in person at their assigned bank branches using a PayPak debit card or check leaf, if applicable.
Banks will give the recipients check books or debit cards, if appropriate, and enable them to take out cash during their second visit. Beneficiaries must imprint their thumb on the check in front of the bank’s teller or employees in order to withdraw cash using checks.
On these accounts, the banks are not allowed to activate internet or mobile banking services.

BISP Payments Now Available via ATMs and Bank Branches

Through biometric verification (BV), BISP beneficiaries will be able to take money out of their accounts via the following methods:

Bank branches
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)

Banks must modify their systems to allow cash withdrawals using BV from their branches and ATMs in order to achieve the aforementioned goal.
Until BV-based disbursements are enabled through branches and ATMs, banks will first process payments to BISP recipients via checks.
Banks may be exempt from issuing check books if they are able to use BV to enable beneficiaries to withdraw cash at their branches and ATMs during the test period.
After receiving PayPal debit cards, beneficiaries will be able to withdraw cash from any ATM at any bank.

Support & Facilitation

In order to facilitate information exchange and continuous cooperation with BISP, the banks must set up a specific role. This function will also be in charge of resolving any problems that the BISP and its beneficiaries may encounter.
To guarantee that BISP recipients are assisted during the account/ATM PIN activation and subsequent disbursement procedure, the banks must set up training programs for their staff.
The banks must set up procedures for promptly resolving BISP beneficiaries’ grievances and guarantee that customer assistance is available around-the-clock.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the State Bank of Pakistan’s revised framework aims to make it easier and safer for BISP beneficiaries to open and use Sahulat Accounts. With improved access through bank branches and ATMs, and proper verification and support systems in place, beneficiaries will now receive their payments more conveniently and securely across Pakistan.