ISLAMABAD, June 22, 2026: First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari was briefed at Parliament House on the progress, reforms and public impact of the Benazir Income Support Programme, with officials outlining budget allocations, cash assistance, education stipends, nutrition support, skills training and digital financial inclusion measures.
The briefing was given by BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid and Secretary BISP Amir Ali Ahmed. Officials said the programme continues to support low-income families across Pakistan through multiple social protection initiatives aimed at women, children and vulnerable households.
The First Lady was informed that Rs716 billion had been allocated for BISP during the financial year 2025-26, while Rs844 billion has been proposed for 2026-27.
Under the Benazir Kafaalat Programme, quarterly cash assistance of Rs14,500 is being provided to 12 million households. Officials said the stipend is planned to increase to Rs18,000 from January 2027.
The briefing also covered the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme, which provides education-linked support to 12.4 million children. The assistance is tied to a minimum 70 percent school attendance condition.
Officials said the Benazir Nashonuma Programme is providing support to around two million pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of two. In addition, 52,000 adolescent girls have been included under a pilot phase.
The First Lady was also briefed on the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, launched by President Asif Ali Zardari and Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari. Officials said more than 7,000 deserving individuals have been enrolled for free skills training.
On digital reforms, officials said more than 10 million beneficiaries are being connected to 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 wallets, while over 410,000 beneficiaries have received digital and financial literacy training.
The briefing said the National Socio-Economic Registry contains data on 38.7 million households. Officials added that 23 million households have updated their information through the Dynamic Registry, while a recent recertification exercise has identified more than 3.5 million new potentially eligible families.
The First Lady was also briefed on a World Bank study which found that BISP supports more than 10.3 million families and reaches about 24 percent of Pakistani households. According to the study, every rupee disbursed through the programme generates Rs2.34 in real income through multiplier effects in local economies.
Officials said the study also found that 68 percent of total income gains go to the poorest 40 percent of households, while BISP supports 1.66 million full-time equivalent jobs. Economic activity generated by the programme returns an estimated Rs174 billion annually to the national exchequer, the briefing noted.
Speaking on the occasion, Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari said BISP reflects the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to support vulnerable segments of society and create opportunities for them.
She appreciated the steps being taken to improve transparency, financial inclusion and service delivery, saying effective social protection programmes help deserving families and enable women to participate more fully in economic and social life.
In her welcome remarks, Senator Rubina Khalid said BISP was launched in 2008 by President Asif Ali Zardari in line with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. She said the programme is moving beyond cash assistance toward an integrated, digital and empowering social protection system.
Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, MNA Shazia Marri and MNA Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, also attended the briefing.
Read More: Rubina Khalid, German ambassador inaugurate seven new BISP mobile registration vans
