The Presidents/ Chief Executives
All Banks/ Microfinance Banks (MFBs)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Facilitation Framework - Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Sahulat Account

1. Please refer to BPRD Circular No. 01 of April 08, 2024 on the captioned subject.
   
   The Facilitation Framework - Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Sahulat Account requires all banks and Microfinance Banks (MFBs) (hereinafter referred to as banks) to open accounts of the BISP beneficiaries enabling them to receive financial assistance directly into their bank accounts.
   
   In order to further improve the process, it has been decided to revise the aforementioned framework. The revised framework with modifications listed below, shall be adopted initially for onboarding BISP beneficiaries in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Muzaffargarh, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit during the pilot phase. After the pilot phase, scope of the framework, with adjustments, if required, shall be extended to other cities/districts.
   
   
   A. Onboarding of BISP Beneficiaries:

   1. The banks shall use a mutually secure arrangement to receive account opening information from BISP, which at the minimum shall include the beneficiary’s full name (as per CNIC), CNIC number, date of birth and residential address. Further, before sending information to the banks, BISP shall ensure through NADRA that CNICs and other information of beneficiaries are valid.
      
      
   2. After receiving the information from BISP, banks shall carry out screening of beneficiary’s particulars against the lists of persons designated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and proscribed under The Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 as well as other relevant lists.
      
      
   3. Banks shall open accounts of beneficiaries in the branches identified by BISP. Thereafter, banks shall generate IBANs of such accounts and share them with BISP, under a mutually agreed and secure arrangement. However, the accounts, so opened, shall remain inactive until the activation process is completed.
      
      
   4. In certain cases, as per modalities to be determined by SBP/BISP, there will be an option of transferring of account to a branch in close proximity of the beneficiary or another bank if the same bank’s branch is not available in the area.
      
      
   5. BISP will introduce an SMS service and web portal for its beneficiaries wherein they can send/input their CNIC numbers to a short code/web portal for the purpose of receiving information regarding the name of the bank and address and location of the bank branch where the account is opened as well as the scheduled dates of their branch visit for the account activation and payments.
      
      
   6. Banks shall activate beneficiaries’ bank accounts, upon their visit to the relevant branch along with their valid CNIC, through Biometric Verification (BV), and inform the same to BISP as per agreed mechanism. If BV could not be performed due to genuine reasons, banks shall document the reasons, and conduct NADRA Verisys of BISP beneficiary for account activation purpose and inform BISP accordingly.
      
      
   7. Banks shall also obtain information regarding date of issuance & expiry of CNIC, place of birth, father’s/spouse name, mother’s maiden name and mobile number (if available) from the BISP beneficiary.
      
      
   8. Banks shall also take verbal consent from the BISP beneficiaries and record the same through marking relevant check box in their systems, for the following:
      
      
   1. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)/ Common Reporting Standard (CRS), wherever required.
   2. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) of these accounts.
   3. Account opening and use of information/documents provided through the above process for due diligence and supervisory functions.
      
      
   9. During the visit of the beneficiaries, the bank will activate their accounts and initiate the process of issuance of a cheque book with minimum five leaves.
      
      
   10. For beneficiaries whose BV could not be conducted due to genuine reasons, banks shall initiate PayPak debit card issuance process and inform BISP accordingly. In this context, banks shall issue cards to BISP beneficiaries, and shall ensure to facilitate them in generation of PIN on these cards during their second visit to the branches after two weeks. For the said purpose, banks may use any or all of the following options:
       
       
   1. Call centers
   2. ATMs
   3. SMS
   4. Web Portals
   5. Others
      
      
   11. After account activation, BISP will disburse the funds into these accounts through RAAST/IBFT and inform the beneficiaries to visit their designated bank branches to collect funds from the branch through cheque leaf or PayPak debit card (as applicable).
       
       
   12. During second visit of the beneficiaries, banks will provide cheque books or debit card, as applicable and allow them to withdraw cash. For the purpose of cash withdrawal through cheques, beneficiaries shall place their thumb impression on cheque in front of the bank’s teller/staff. In cases where BV cannot be performed due to genuine reasons, banks shall document the reason and conduct NADRA Verisys for payment purpose.
       
       
   13. The banks shall not activate internet/ mobile banking facilities on such accounts.
       
       B. Enablement of Payments to BISP Beneficiaries through ATMs and Branches
       
       
1. BISP beneficiaries shall be enabled to withdraw funds from their account through biometric verification (BV) using the following channels:
   
   
1. Bank branches
2. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
   
   
2. For the aforementioned purpose, banks shall make necessary changes in their systems for the enablement of cash withdrawal through BV from their branches and ATMs.
3. Banks will facilitate payment to BISP beneficiaries initially through cheques until the enablement of BV-based disbursements through branches and ATMs.
4. In cases where banks can facilitate the beneficiaries for cash withdrawals at their ATMs and branches through BV during the pilot phase, they may not be required to issue cheque books.
5. Beneficiaries who have been issued PayPak debit cards will be enabled to use ATM of any bank for withdrawal of their cash.
   
   C. Accounts Operations:
   
   
1. Banks shall allow normal operations in these accounts as permissible under branchless banking level 1 accounts.
   
   
2. There shall be no charges on cash withdrawal from ATMs on off-us transactions for BISP beneficiaries.
   
   D. Facilitation and Support:
   
   
1. The banks shall establish a dedicated function for the purpose of information sharing and ongoing coordination with BISP, this function shall also be responsible for resolution of issues facing the BISP and its beneficiaries.
   
   
2. The banks shall arrange training programs for their employees to ensure facilitation to the BISP beneficiaries during the account/ ATM PIN activation and subsequent disbursement process.
   
   
3. The banks shall put in place mechanism for timely resolution of complaints of BISP beneficiaries and ensure 24/7 availability of customer support services.