ISLAMABAD, Monday, June 22, 2026 (WNP): First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari was on Monday briefed on the progress, reforms and expanding impact of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), with officials highlighting the programme’s growing role in poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, financial inclusion and human capital development across Pakistan.
The briefing was given by Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid and Secretary BISP Amir Ali Ahmed at Parliament House, where the First Lady received a comprehensive overview of the programme’s achievements and future plans.
Officials informed her that Rs 716 billion had been allocated for BISP during the fiscal year 2025-26, while a proposed allocation of Rs 844 billion has been earmarked for 2026-27 to further strengthen the country’s largest social protection initiative.
The meeting was told that under the Benazir Kafaalat Programme, quarterly cash assistance of Rs 14,500 is currently being provided to 12 million deserving households across the country, with plans to increase the stipend to Rs 18,000 from January 2027.
The briefing highlighted that the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme is supporting the education of 12.4 million children by linking educational stipends to a minimum school attendance requirement of 70 percent, while the Benazir Nashonuma Programme is benefiting nearly two million pregnant and lactating women and children under two years of age. Additionally, 52,000 adolescent girls have been included under a pilot initiative aimed at improving nutrition and health outcomes.
The First Lady was also informed that the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, launched by President Asif Ali Zardari and Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari, is providing free vocational and technical skills training to deserving individuals, with more than 7,000 participants already enrolled.
On the digital transformation front, officials said that more than 10 million beneficiaries are being integrated into the formal financial system through Digital Social Protection Wallets under the Prime Minister’s Cashless Economy Initiative. More than 8.5 million free SIMs have been distributed and linked to digital wallets, while over 410,000 beneficiaries have received digital and financial literacy training.
The briefing further noted that the National Socio-Economic Registry currently contains data on 38.7 million households. Under the Dynamic Registry system, 23 million households have updated their information, while a recent recertification exercise identified more than 3.5 million additional potentially eligible families for social assistance.
Officials also shared findings from a World Bank study, which found that BISP currently supports more than 10.3 million families, covering approximately 24 percent of households across Pakistan.
According to the study, every rupee distributed through BISP generates Rs 2.34 in real income through multiplier effects in local economies, while 68 percent of the overall income gains accrue to the poorest 40 percent of households. The programme is also estimated to support approximately 1.66 million full-time equivalent jobs nationwide.
Speaking on the occasion, Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari said the Benazir Income Support Programme remains a lasting reflection of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, aimed at providing dignity, support and opportunity to vulnerable segments of society.
She appreciated ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, strengthen financial inclusion and improve service delivery, emphasizing that effective social protection systems play a critical role in supporting deserving families and enabling women to participate more actively in economic and social life.
In her welcome remarks, Senator Rubina Khalid said the programme, established in 2008 under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, represents a practical manifestation of her commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
She said BISP is gradually evolving from a cash assistance programme into an integrated, digital and empowerment-focused social protection system designed to create long-term socio-economic opportunities for beneficiaries.
Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Member National Assembly Shazia Marri, Member National Assembly Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, and Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety were also present during the briefing.
