Benazir Kafaalat (بینظیر کفالت, also written Kafalat) is the core programme of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). It gives an unconditional cash payment of Rs 14,500 every quarter to the woman of each household that BISP's survey identifies as among the poorest in Pakistan. BISP says more than 10 million women receive it, which makes it one of the largest cash transfer programmes in South Asia.
Benazir Kafaalat at a glance
| Type of support | Unconditional cash transfer (no conditions to meet) |
| Amount | Rs 14,500 per quarter, Rs 58,000 a year (since March 2026) |
| Paid to | An ever-married woman of the household with a valid CNIC |
| Who qualifies | Households in the NSER with a PMT score of 32 or below (37 with a disabled member) |
| How to join | Free NSER survey at a BISP tehsil office. There is no application form |
| Payment method | BISP digital wallet on the beneficiary's Benazir SIM, withdrawn with thumbprint |
| Check status | 8171 check by CNIC, or SMS your CNIC to 8171 |
| Helpline | 0800-26477 (toll free) |
Why Kafaalat exists
BISP was set up in 2008, and the BISP Act 2010 made it a permanent federal institution. Its aim is to protect the poorest families from falling deeper into poverty and to strengthen the position of women. When BISP began, about 2.2 million households received support. Today Kafaalat reaches more than four times as many.
Paying the money to women is a deliberate choice. It gives women a recognised income of their own and a say in how household money is spent, and it encourages women to get a CNIC, a phone number and an account in their own name. Independent evaluations of BISP have reported benefits for household food security and for women's position in the family.
How much Benazir Kafaalat pays
| From | Per quarter | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Before January 2025 | Rs 10,500 | Rs 42,000 |
| January 2025 | Rs 13,500 | Rs 54,000 |
| March 2026 (current) | Rs 14,500 | Rs 58,000 |
The increase to Rs 14,500 was announced in BISP's press release of 10 March 2026. In June 2026 the government said it plans to raise Kafaalat to Rs 18,000 per quarter from January 2027. Treat that figure as a plan until BISP confirms it.
Families can receive more on top of Kafaalat: Taleemi Wazaif for each child in school and Nashonuma during pregnancy and for children under two. Use the calculator on this page to see your household's total.
Who is eligible for Benazir Kafaalat
A household is enrolled automatically when all of these are true:
- It is registered in the NSER. The National Socio-Economic Registry is built from BISP's household survey.
- Its PMT score is at or below the cut-off. The Proxy Means Test gives every household a welfare score from 0 to 100. The cut-off is 32, or 37 if a family member has a disability. Our guide to the PMT score explains how it is calculated.
- No exclusion filter applies. Households are commonly reported to be excluded when a member is in government service, owns a car, travels abroad frequently, owns large landholdings or has high phone and utility bills. Try the eligibility self-check.
- There is an eligible woman to receive the money: an ever-married woman of the household with a valid CNIC.
According to BISP, transgender persons with a NADRA CNIC recording their status can be enrolled without the PMT cut-off after a survey at a BISP tehsil office.
How to apply for Benazir Kafaalat
There is no application form and no online registration. The steps are:
- Check your status first with the 8171 check by CNIC or by SMS to 8171.
- If there is no record, visit your nearest BISP tehsil office for the free NSER dynamic survey. Take original CNICs, your children's B-Forms and a mobile number in your name. The full checklist is in our BISP registration guide.
- If you were surveyed but are not eligible, and your situation has got worse, ask for a re-survey.
- After processing, check 8171 again. If eligible, you will receive SMS from 8171 when payments are credited.
How Kafaalat is paid
In 2026 BISP moved Kafaalat to digital wallets. The beneficiary receives a wallet linked to her officially issued Benazir SIM. Each quarter:
- BISP credits the qist and she receives an SMS from 8171.
- She visits an authorised retailer or agent of a BISP partner bank with her original CNIC.
- She verifies with her thumbprint and receives the full amount in cash.
BISP releases each qist in phases, so families in different districts are paid on different days. Read when the next BISP qist comes and the digital wallet and Benazir SIM guide.
No deductions are allowed. An agent who keeps any amount "for service" is breaking the rules. Note the shop, date, place and amount, and report it on 0800-26477. See how to complain.
What beneficiaries must do to keep receiving Kafaalat
Kafaalat has no conditions like school attendance, but families must keep their records in order:
- Keep the CNIC valid. An expired CNIC can stop withdrawals. Renew it at NADRA in time.
- Keep the Benazir SIM active and in the beneficiary's own phone.
- Update family changes (marriage, divorce, death, new children) at the tehsil office.
- Never share a PIN, OTP or wallet details. Check suspicious messages with the fake BISP message checker.
Why Kafaalat payments stop
| Reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| CNIC expired | Renew at NADRA, then visit the BISP office if payments do not resume |
| Benazir SIM inactive or lost | Replace the SIM at the network franchise with biometric verification |
| Household data changed, and the new PMT score is above the cut-off | Ask for a re-survey if the data is wrong or your situation has got worse |
| Exclusion filter now applies (for example a new government job in the family) | If the person has left the household, update your data at the tehsil office |
| Phased release | Wait for payments to reach your district, then complain if needed |
Frequently asked questions
What is Benazir Kafaalat?
It is BISP's main programme: an unconditional quarterly cash payment to the woman of each eligible low-income household in Pakistan.
How much is Benazir Kafaalat in 2026?
Rs 14,500 per quarter, which is Rs 58,000 a year. The government plans Rs 18,000 per quarter from January 2027, but BISP has not confirmed it yet.
How do I apply for Benazir Kafaalat?
You cannot apply online. Complete the free NSER survey at a BISP tehsil office. If your PMT score is at or below the cut-off, you are enrolled automatically.
Can a man receive Benazir Kafaalat?
Kafaalat is paid to an ever-married woman of the household. BISP's rules for transgender persons with a CNIC recording their status are different and do not use the PMT cut-off.
How do I check whether I am a Kafaalat beneficiary?
Enter the woman's CNIC on 8171.bisp.gov.pk or send it by SMS to 8171.
Is Ehsaas Kafaalat the same as Benazir Kafaalat?
Yes. The same quarterly cash programme was called Ehsaas Kafaalat for a period. It is now officially Benazir Kafaalat, run by BISP.
Sources
- BISP Press Release No. 20, 10 March 2026 (Rs 14,500): bisp.gov.pk
- BISP press releases on digital wallets, June 2026: No. 45, No. 50
- President's Secretariat, briefing on BISP, 22 June 2026: president.gov.pk
- Benazir Income Support Programme: bisp.gov.pk
Last updated 10 Nov 2026
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