In a country where millions face the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, and rising inflation, the Government of Pakistan continues to play a vital role in offering support through its Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), which is the government’s main social aid program. As we move into 2025, the government has announced new updates to the program, including revised eligibility criteria and an enhanced digital process via the 8171 service.
This article explores the latest changes introduced in the BISP Kafalat Program, focusing on who qualifies, how to apply, and how to check your eligibility via SMS and the official web portal.
What is the BISP Kafalat Program?
The Benazir Income Support Program, Kafalat, is a nationwide welfare program launched to support low-income women and vulnerable households through direct cash assistance. Unlike traditional aid programs, BISP focuses on empowering women by transferring funds to female beneficiaries, giving them greater financial control within their households.
Each eligible woman receives a monthly or quarterly stipend, which helps her cover essential expenses such as food, medical care, and school supplies for children. The program promotes economic inclusion, especially in rural and underserved areas of Pakistan.
What’s New in 2025?
In 2025, the BISP Kafalat Program underwent important updates to ensure better transparency, wider coverage, and digital efficiency. These include:
- Revised eligibility standards
- Enhanced use of the 8171 SMS service
- Updated NSER (National Socio-Economic Registry) survey for accurate assessments
- Improved monitoring systems to prevent misuse and ensure timely payments
Updated Eligibility Criteria for BISP Kafalat 2025
To ensure that financial assistance reaches the most deserving families, the government has defined clear and updated eligibility requirements for 2025. Here are the main conditions:
1. Poverty Score Below Threshold
Households must fall below a certain poverty score determined through the NSER survey. This score is calculated based on income, assets, family size, and living conditions.
2. Female Head of Household
- Only women are eligible to apply as primary beneficiaries. The applicant must:
- Be aged 18 years or older
- Possess a valid CNICShe hase a SIM card registered in her name
3. No Government Employment
There should be no household member working in government service or receiving a government pension.
4. No Recent Foreign Travel
Applicants or their immediate family members must not have travelled abroad for non-labor purposes recently.
5. Not Receiving Multiple Government Aid Programs
Beneficiaries should not already be receiving substantial financial support from other major federal or provincial aid programs, except BISP or Ehsaas Kafalat.
Newly Included Beneficiary Groups
To promote inclusivity, the 2025 update has extended coverage to several underserved and at-risk populations:
- Widows and divorced women
- Persons with disabilities
- Senior citizens (women above 60 years)
- Orphans and guardians of orphans
- Transgender individuals
- Disaster-affected families (e.g., floods, earthquakes)
How to Check Eligibility via 8171
The government has streamlined the process of checking eligibility and applying using the 8171 SMS code and online portal.
✅ SMS Method
- Open your messaging app.
- Type your 13-digit CNIC number (no spaces or dashes).
- Send it to 8171.
- Within seconds, you’ll receive a message confirming your eligibility status.
- This method is free of cost and available to users on all mobile networks in Pakistan.
Online Portal Method
- Visit: https://8171.bisp.gov.pk
- That’s your CNIC number and the proof code that shows up on the screen.
Click “Submit” to view your results. - The portal allows users to see their detailed status and also helps families update their NSER information if needed.
- How to Receive Payments
- HBL Konnect and Bank Alfalah agents
- BISP Payment Centers
- Mobile wallet services (in select districts)
- ATMs (where available)
- We only release payments after biometric verification with the original CNIC of the female beneficiary.
- Fraud Protection and Safety Guidelines
- To protect citizens from scams and fraud, the government emphasises the following:
- Never pay any agent or third party for registration or verification.
- Use only your own registered SIM card to apply.
- Please report any instances of fraud to your nearest BISP Tehsil Office or contact the official helpline.
Conclusion
Millions of underprivileged women and families across Pakistan find hope in the BISP Kafalat Program 2025. With the new eligibility rules and a simplified 8171 registration process, the government is ensuring that this crucial assistance reaches the right hands. By empowering women through financial inclusion, the programme helps families survive and contributes to building a more just and equitable society.
If you or someone you know meets the criteria, send your CNIC to 8171 today and take the first step toward receiving support under the BISP Kafalat Program.