BISP, PTA collaborate to combat fake SMS, misleading websites

By Our Correspondent
July 06, 2024
A BISP officer verifies the NIC and biometric of deserving people during the distribution of relief funds through Benazir Income Support Programme  — APP/File
A BISP officer verifies the NIC and biometric of deserving people during the distribution of relief funds through Benazir Income Support Programme  — APP/File

Islamabad:Senator Rubina Khalid, chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), met with Major General (r) Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), at PTA Headquarters today to discuss safeguarding the interests of Benazir Income Support Programme beneficiaries.

During the meeting, the officials discussed strategies to combat the masking of messages and calls from 8171 as ‘BISP’ and the blocking of fake websites operating under BISP’s name. The collaboration aims to protect beneficiaries from scams and misinformation.

Moreover, the discussion included the importance of launching a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate beneficiaries about these scams, forming a joint committee to review progress and implement proactive measures, validating the mobile numbers of BISP beneficiaries registered against their CNICs, and designing a mechanism for the issuance of SIMs to existing and new beneficiaries. Chairman PTA, Hafeez Ur Rehman, assured full cooperation from PTA to support these initiatives and ensure the security of Benazir Income Support Programme beneficiaries.