Islamabad: The government has increased financial assistance under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), raising the quarterly stipend for beneficiaries and expanding support for children’s education and nutrition as part of broader social protection measures.
Under the revised structure, the BISP quarterly stipend has been increased from Rs13,500 to Rs14,500. Officials say the move is aimed at providing additional relief to low-income households amid rising living costs.
The programme has also raised educational stipends by Rs500 per child to support school-going children of beneficiary families. In addition, payments under the Nashonuma programme, which focuses on maternal and child health, have been increased by Rs500 per child to improve nutrition outcomes.
Digital payments and expanded outreach
As part of efforts to improve transparency and access, authorities have initiated the distribution of free mobile SIMs to beneficiary women. The initiative is intended to facilitate direct, secure, and dignified disbursement of funds through digital channels.
Officials said the programme aligns with the broader vision of strengthening social protection systems and ensuring efficient delivery of financial assistance to deserving families. The rollout includes the establishment of social protection wallets for women to streamline payments and reduce dependency on intermediaries.
Beneficiaries who have not yet received their SIM cards have been advised to visit nearby BISP offices to complete the process and avoid delays in future payments.
The Benazir Income Support Programme remains one of Pakistan’s flagship welfare initiatives, targeting millions of low-income households, particularly women, through cash assistance and complementary support programmes.
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