Quick answer: The PMT (Proxy Means Test) score is a number from 0 to 100 that BISP gives each household after the NSER survey. A lower score means a poorer household. Households scoring 32 or below qualify for Benazir Kafaalat, and the cut-off is 37 if a family member has a disability. The score is worked out from your answers about family size, housing, assets, education and spending, not from a salary slip.
"Mera PMT score kitna hai?" is one of the most common questions BISP offices hear. BISP does not show the exact score on the 8171 portal, but understanding how it works explains most eligibility results and tells you when a re-survey is worth it.
Why BISP uses a proxy score instead of income
In Pakistan most low-income families work in the informal sector, so there is no payslip or tax record to prove income. A proxy means test solves this by looking at things that are easy to observe and hard to hide (the house, its roof and toilet, livestock, appliances, the number of earning members) and turning them into a single welfare score. The same idea is used by social protection programmes in many countries.
What the NSER survey asks about
The enumerator at the BISP desk records information such as:
- Household members: number of people, their ages, and how many depend on others
- Education and work: schooling of adults and children, and type of work
- Housing: number of rooms, roof and wall material, toilet, drinking water, cooking fuel and electricity connection
- Assets: livestock, agricultural land, vehicles, and household items such as a fridge, AC or washing machine
- Spending signals: electricity and phone bills, and travel
These answers go into a formula, and the formula produces the PMT score. Because the formula weighs many things together, two families with the same income can get different scores.
The PMT cut-off: 32 and 37
| Household | Kafaalat cut-off |
|---|---|
| Standard household | PMT score of 32 or below |
| Household with a person with a disability | PMT score of 37 or below |
The BISP Board set these cut-offs in 2021. A household just above the cut-off, for example at 33, is not eligible for Kafaalat even though it is still poor. That is why small changes in the household (a son moving out, or a business closing) can matter.
According to BISP, transgender persons who hold a NADRA CNIC recording their status can be enrolled without the PMT cut-off after a survey at a BISP tehsil office.
Exclusion factors that can make you ineligible
Apart from the score, BISP applies filters that can exclude a household even with a low score. The factors most often reported are:
- a household member in government service
- owning a car or other motor vehicle
- frequent air or foreign travel, or an executive passport
- landholding above the reported limit (commonly given as 12.5 acres)
- high average phone or utility bills
BISP does not publish a complete list, and the final decision is always BISP's. Try the BISP eligibility self-check to see which of these factors might apply to you.
Why your neighbour qualifies and you do not
- Different household size: a family of nine and a family of four with the same earnings get very different scores.
- Old data: your survey may have been done when you were better off.
- A linked CNIC: a family member with a government job or vehicle registered in their name can trigger an exclusion.
- Incorrect answers: mistakes in the survey (for example, a borrowed fridge recorded as yours) can raise the score.
How to get your PMT score updated
The score only changes when your household data changes in NSER. If your situation has genuinely worsened, or the survey recorded something wrong, visit the BISP tehsil office and ask for a re-survey (dynamic survey). Take your CNIC and the B-Forms of all children. Our guide to updating family data and re-survey lists what to bring for each type of change.
Nobody can "increase" or "decrease" your PMT score for a fee. Anyone who offers this is a fraudster. Report them on 0800-26477.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PMT score for BISP?
It is a welfare score from 0 to 100 calculated from your NSER survey answers. A lower score means a poorer household.
What PMT score is needed for Benazir Kafaalat?
32 or below. For households with a person with a disability, the cut-off is 37.
Can I see my PMT score on 8171?
The 8171 portal shows whether you are eligible, not the exact score. BISP staff at the tehsil office can explain your status.
How can I change my PMT score?
Only through a re-survey at the BISP tehsil office, when your household's situation has changed or the earlier data was wrong.
Can I still be eligible if someone in my family has a government job?
A government job in the household is one of the most commonly reported exclusion factors. If that person no longer lives in your household, ask for a re-survey so your data is updated.
Sources
- BISP: bisp.gov.pk
- Benazir NSER (National Socio-Economic Registry): bisp.gov.pk
- 8171 eligibility portal: 8171.bisp.gov.pk
Haqdaar is independent and not part of BISP. Rules and amounts change, so confirm with the official helpline 0800-26477 or 8171.bisp.gov.pk.
Questions and comments
No comments yet. Ask a question or share what happened when you followed this guide.