Latest news with #BenazirIncomeSupportProgram
Hans India
7 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
BISP 8171 Web Portal – Check Eligibility for Ehsaas Rs. 25000
The Government of Pakistan has taken significant steps to support low-income families through welfare programs like the Ehsaas Program and Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). One of the most important initiatives under this is the 8171 Ehsaas Program 25000 BISP relief, which aims to provide financial aid of Rs. 25,000 to deserving families. To make the process transparent and accessible, the BISP 8171 Web Portal has been introduced by StarryRead. This online platform allows beneficiaries to easily access important information, get the latest updates on BISP, and check their eligibility through their CNIC. In this detailed guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about using the BISP 8171 Web Portal, checking eligibility, applying for the Rs. 25,000 financial assistance, and staying updated with the latest news. What is the 8171 Ehsaas Program 25000 BISP? The 8171 Ehsaas Program 25000 BISP is a government assistance scheme launched to help underprivileged citizens, especially during times of crisis such as natural disasters, inflation, or unemployment. Through this program, eligible families receive a one-time cash grant of Rs. 25,000 to support their basic needs. It is managed under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), which is one of the largest social safety net programs in Pakistan. This program ensures that aid reaches the right families based on a comprehensive eligibility assessment. Purpose of the BISP 8171 Web Portal The BISP 8171 Web Portal was launched to provide a digital solution for: Checking eligibility for financial aid Tracking application status Accessing information about new registration or disbursement Avoiding physical visits to BISP offices or centers This portal is especially helpful for people living in remote areas who may not have easy access to government offices. How to Check Eligibility on the BISP 8171 Web Portal Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the BISP 8171 Web Portal to check your eligibility for the Ehsaas Rs. 25000 program: Step 1: Visit the BISP 8171 Web Portal Open your browser and go to Step 2: Enter Your CNIC Number You will see a field asking for your 13-digit CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card) number. Type in your CNIC correctly. Step 3: Enter Captcha Code A security code (captcha) will be displayed. Enter it in the relevant field. Step 4: Submit and Check Eligibility Click on the 'Find' or 'Submit' button. The system will display your eligibility status, payment information (if approved), and any further steps required. Who is Eligible for 8171 Ehsaas Program 25000 BISP? Not everyone automatically qualifies. Here are the common criteria: Belonging to a low-income household Monthly income under a specified threshold Must not own significant land or property No government employment Valid CNIC Registered in the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) database If you're unsure about your NSER status, you can visit the nearest BISP center or use the BISP portal to confirm your registration. How to Apply for the 8171 Ehsaas Rs. 25000 Program If you're not already registered, follow these steps to apply: 1. SMS Registration via 8171 Send your CNIC number to 8171 via SMS. You will receive a reply indicating whether you're eligible, under review, or not registered. 2. Visit the Nearest Ehsaas or BISP Center If required, visit a local Ehsaas registration center to submit biometric data and verify your documents. 3. Wait for Confirmation After registration, you will receive an SMS or notification once your application is processed. For a full step-by-step guide, you can read our detailed post on how to apply for the 8171 Ehsaas Program 25000 BISP. What to Do If You're Declared Ineligible? If the BISP portal shows that you're not eligible, don't lose hope. You can: Update your family information via NSER or NADRA Re-apply after correcting the data Visit your local BISP or Ehsaas center for manual verification File a grievance or complaint via the helpline Sometimes, ineligibility is caused by incorrect data entries or missing documents. Always make sure your information is up to date. Benefits of Using the BISP 8171 Web Portal Saves time and travel cost Available 24/7 from anywhere in Pakistan Keeps your data confidential Gives real-time updates Reduces crowd at physical offices For full access and details, you can always visit the BISP 8171 Web Portal for accurate and updated information. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: Is there any fee to check status on the BISP 8171 portal? No, it's completely free. The portal is designed to serve all citizens at no cost. Q2: Can I register someone else in my family? Yes, but you'll need their CNIC and in some cases, biometric verification may be required. Q3: What is the official code for Ehsaas program SMS? The official code is 8171. Do not trust messages from any other number. Q4: How often can I receive the Rs. 25000 payment? The Rs. 25,000 is usually a one-time payment given in special cases like floods, inflation relief, or emergencies. Final Words The 8171 Ehsaas Program 25000 BISP is a valuable lifeline for millions of families across Pakistan. The BISP 8171 Web Portal makes it easier than ever to check your eligibility, register, and access financial aid without the hassle of long lines or paperwork. If you or your family are experiencing financial hardship, don't miss this opportunity. Make sure your information is updated and apply today through the BISP 8171 Web Portal via StarryRead
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SECP suggests insurance-BISP integration
ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has proposed integration of insurance with the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). The SECP has published a landmark report titled, 'Role of Insurance in Social Security: Landscape of Pakistan.' The study explores the potential of insurance as a key instrument for social protection and financial resilience, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. The report revealed that BISP, as Pakistan's largest social safety net, supports millions of vulnerable families through cash transfers and other welfare programmes. Integrating insurance into BISP can significantly enhance its impact by providing long-term financial resilience to beneficiaries. For example, incorporating health, life, or disability micro-insurance alongside cash assistance can ensure families are protected from unforeseen medical expenses, loss of a breadwinner, or other financial shocks. This approach would reduce the direct burden on the government's budget by shifting some of the financial risk to insurers, making the programme more sustainable. Additionally, beneficiaries would gain more than just temporary relief — they'd have access to structured, ongoing financial protection, fostering a shift from reliance on aid to greater self-sufficiency and resilience in the face of adversity. This integration could also pave the way for financial inclusion, linking vulnerable populations to formal financial services through insurance. Developed under SECP's Five-Year Strategic Plan, 'Journey to an Insured Pakistan,' the report highlights the limited coverage and weak enforcement of existing mandatory insurance laws, as well as the absence of national-level insurance schemes for informal sector workers. Despite legal provisions requiring group life insurance for formal workers, only 9.5 million workers out of the total 72 million workforce are currently covered, leaving millions without financial protection against accidents, disability, or loss of life. Drawing from international best practices, the report offers a strategic roadmap centered on five key reforms: strengthening legal frameworks, integrating insurance with social safety nets, enhancing enforcement through data linkages, launching a national social insurance scheme for informal workers, and developing standardised, accessible insurance products. In his message, the SECP chairman emphasised the commission's commitment to strengthening Pakistan's insurance sector as a tool for sustainable development, financial protection, and social inclusion. The commissioner insurance further called upon all stakeholders—including lawmakers, insurers, social security institutions, and employers—to collaborate in translating these recommendations into actionable reforms. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Diplomat
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Diplomat
How Corruption Hollows Out Pakistan's Benazir Income Support Program
Pakistan's largest social support initiative is a vital lifeline for the poor – but is plagued by 'total corruption' at all levels of disbursement. In June 2008, Pakistan launched the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), the country's largest single social support initiative. It was established as an autonomous institution in 2010, facilitating its expansion. The program's name is a tribute to Pakistan's late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. According to a World Bank report, Pakistan's social safety net programs prior to the BISP had been ineffective due to their limited coverage and lack of objective targeting. In response to rising inflation, the government of Pakistan introduced the BISP, an unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program. Since its inception, the BISP has become the country's flagship social safety net, providing support to the poorest families. As of December 2024, the BISP supports around 9.6 million families, positively impacting approximately 58 million people, which is nearly one-fourth of Pakistan's population. The selection criteria for the program is primarily based on economic need, without regard to religious, racial, geographical, or political backgrounds. To qualify for support through the BISP, a family's monthly income must be less than 50,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately $175). Eligible beneficiaries receive 13,500 rupees quarterly through a biometric verification system (BVS) at designated retail outlets or payment centers. In some cases, beneficiaries have the option to receive funds directly into their bank accounts. In the past, various methods such as smart debit cards, mobile phone banking, and money orders via Pakistan Post were used to transfer the funds. Despite its mission to provide an income safety net to the millions of poor families in Pakistan, the program is faced with rampant corruption. In 2020, the issue of the disbursement of BISP funds to ineligible beneficiaries came to light. In January 2023, the office of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of country's National Assembly that 19 billion rupees of the BISP funds were illegally distributed among 143,000 government officials – including 2,500 ranked at Basic Pay Scale-17 or higher, meaning at the assistant director and under secretary level or above. Using the names of their spouses and relatives, these officials were tapping into funds meant to help Pakistan's poor. The government ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the issue. The situation does not appear to have improved. According to the Audit Report for the fiscal year 2023-2024, there were financial irregularities amounting to 141 billion rupees in the BISP during this period. The report indicates that more than 3 million beneficiaries lacked a registered family Computerized National Identity Card, yet 116.95 billion rupees in funds were transferred without proper verification into their names. Officials have warned that these funds may have been transferred to businesspersons, government employees, and other ineligible beneficiaries. There is another level of corruption that directly impacts eligible beneficiaries. A reliable source, who spoke to The Diplomat on the condition of anonymity, stated that bank employees responsible for distributing fingerprint devices to retailers, as well as the retailers themselves, are keeping some of the BISP funds for themselves. This results in beneficiaries receiving less than they are entitled to. According to the source, 'Five fingers are not equal. Some retailers deduct only 500 to 1,000 rupees from each beneficiary, while others engage in more deceitful practices. These dishonest retailers take beneficiaries' biometric information and claim that their funds are not available. They then hold onto the money until the beneficiaries return, at which point they may deduct up to 4,000-5000 rupees from the actual amount of 13,500 rupees owed.' Furthermore, the source claimed that 'the funds collected by the retailers are then distributed among various officials, including those from law enforcement and public administration services. Additionally, the relevant monitoring official from the BISP at the district level also demands a share of the money. Typically, these BISP officials request between 40,000 to 50,000 rupees per retailer. However, in the last quarter, the demand increased to 100,000 rupees per retailer.' The source also claimed that 'journalists, as well as social and political workers, also take their share from retailers to keep them silent.' Additionally, 'Bank officials collect amounts from retailers that are not part of any official fees.' This source estimated that the total amount of misappropriated funds in just one district of Sindh Province amounted to 'approximately 30 to 40 million rupees.' The total amount of corruption can vary from district to district based on the number of beneficiaries registered. With multiple actors skimming off funds at all levels of the disbursement process, 'the BISP is unfortunately facing total corruption,' the source lamented. The corruption is effectively mandatory. The source stated, 'Retailers are threatened with the possibility of having their devices blocked and confiscated or facing criminal charges' if they don't partake in these illegal practices. As a result, corruption is pervasive throughout a program that is intended to alleviate the financial burden on low-income families. While the source cited above has direct knowledge only of Sindh, the situation is reportedly the same in Pakistan's other provinces: Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A source from Balochistan said that 'payment centers charge a minimum of 500 rupees for withdrawals. Additionally, there are agents who charge between 300 and 500 rupees to assist individuals in withdrawing their funds. There have also been reports of fake and duplicate payments occurring in the province. Furthermore, it has been highlighted that some government officials are illegally benefiting from the BISP.' Perhaps this is not surprising, given that Pakistan ranks 135th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2024. But the corruption eating away at social support payments is particularly alarming in a country where over 44 percent of the population lives in poverty. The Benazir Income Support Program, which was intended to help alleviate poverty, is instead riddled with corruption. It appears that the program serves not only to support those in need but also to foster corrupt practices among government officials. Despite various measures introduced to reduce corruption within the program, such as different payment methods, those in power consistently find ways to profit illicitly.
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Nationwide poverty explosion: PIDE challenges widely circulated narrative
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), while debunking the claims regarding a sharp increase in poverty in the country has clarified the situation, saying the rise in poverty statistics is primarily due to global metric recalibration rather than a sudden economic collapse. The Economic Think Tank with its latest report titled, 'The Poverty Illusion: When Numbers Distort Reality' has challenged the widely circulated narrative of a nationwide poverty explosion. The report, authored by Dr Nasir Iqbal, PIDE's registrar and associate professor, critically examines the World Bank's revised global poverty lines. The new $4.20 per day threshold, replacing the previous $3.20, has led to an increase in poverty statistics from 39.8 percent to 44.7percent. However, Dr Iqbal points out that more than 80percent of this increase is the result of shifting global poverty benchmarks, not a collapse in household conditions. Inflation and other factors account for just 18percent of the increase. As per the report, the extreme poverty, measured at $3 per day, has soared from 4.9 percent to 16.5 percent. The sharp uptick in poverty rates is largely the result of the World Bank's upward revision of global poverty lines. For lower-middle-income countries like Pakistan, the general poverty threshold has been increased from $3.20 to $4.20 per day. Likewise, the extreme poverty line has been revised upward from $2.15 to $3 per day. These changes represent a substantial recalibration of the baseline used to assess poverty. When the bar is raised, more people fall below it — not because their lives have deteriorated, but because the measurement standard has shifted. Dr Nadeem Javaid, vice chancellor (VC) of PIDE and member of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, stated, 'Policymaking must be grounded in facts, not fear. These revised figures reflect changes in how poverty is measured globally, not a dramatic decline in the livelihoods of Pakistanis.' Key insights from PIDE's analysis include the strength of the informal economy, which supports over 60 percent of Pakistan's workforce, absorbing economic shocks and offering resilience during crises. Social protection programmes such as the Ehsaas Programme and the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) have played significant roles in mitigating poverty. Additionally, remittances from overseas Pakistanis continue to provide vital support, cushioning households and bolstering the economy during times of distress. Even amid major economic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 floods, PIDE estimates the poverty rate in 2025 to be between 23 percent and 25 percent, with food-based poverty pegged at just 6.2 percent, signalling consistent, long-term improvement. In light of these findings, PIDE has proposed a series of actions to address poverty with a data-driven approach. These include reinstating the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) to update data, refining BISP to link cash transfers with measurable outcomes like education, employment, and asset growth, and developing a National Poverty Reduction Strategy integrated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure inclusive economic reforms. Additionally, PIDE calls for leveraging the informal economy through the creation of Village Economic Zones (VEZs) to boost rural employment and productivity via local value chains and agri-tech innovations. The VC PIDE emphasised, 'This is not a time for panic, but for rational, evidence-based policymaking that can turn perceived crises into opportunities for structural economic reform.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Bilawal condemns US attack on Iran, warns India over IWT breach
Listen to article Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Monday that Pakistan would consider war if India refused to honour the Indus Waters Treaty, while condemning recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them "based on lies," Express News reported. Addressing the National Assembly during the ongoing budget session, Bilawal said the attacks on Iran's nuclear sites and the targeting of scientists and journalists were unjustified and violated international norms. He said his party was consulted on the budget this time, and some of its inputs had been incorporated into the budget. He appreciated the government for expressing consent to PPP's recommendations, including leaving the digital tax on services to the jurisdiction of the provinces and reducing the sales tax on solar panels from eighteen percent to ten percent. Bilawal expressed satisfaction over improvements in economic indicators, especially the reduction in inflation as a result of the government's policies. He commended the twenty percent increase in the budget of the Benazir Income Support Program. Read: India failed both militarily and diplomatically against Pakistan: Bilawal He demanded the declaration of an agricultural emergency, saying that it would provide relief to farmers and protect the economy's backbone. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari mentioned that the defence budget had been enhanced by twenty percent because of India's hostile posture. He said Pakistan had once again internationalized the Kashmir dispute. Referring to the visit of a high-level delegation led by him to various capitals, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan had defeated India on the battlefield, as well as on the diplomatic and narrative fronts. He said they presented Pakistan's stance and narrative based on peace. He said India had only two options: either to comply with the Indus Water Treaty, or Pakistan would wage a war to secure water from all six rivers. He added that such actions were part of a broader pattern of aggression that started with Gaza, continued in Yemen, and has now reached Iran. Read More: 'No military solution to Pak-India disputes' He warned, 'If India does not respect the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan will go to war,' stressing that India has already lost and Pakistan has already won on the diplomatic and political fronts. Tension between Pakistan and India began on April 22, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian blame. In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other's embassies. Criticising previous Pakistani leadership for what he described as weak responses to Indian actions in Kashmir, Bilawal said the current government had demonstrated resolve by downing six Indian fighter jets in response to Indian incursions, asserting that the issue of Kashmir had been internationalised once again. He further alleged that both Indian and Israeli lobbies were actively working to malign Pakistan globally, including attempts to place the country back on the FATF grey list — efforts he said had failed. Bilawal called for peace between Pakistan and India but underlined the need for military preparedness, citing India's refusal to officially acknowledge the ceasefire. He praised the increase in Pakistan's defence budget and supported funding for non-controversial dams, while advocating for reduced taxes on solar energy and increased social support through the Benazir Income Support Programme. Responding to opposition heckling, Bilawal said his party, though not in the federal cabinet, remained committed to representing the people's concerns and bringing constructive criticism and proposals to the table.
