The National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) (این ایس ای آر) is Pakistan's database of household welfare information. BISP uses it to decide who receives Benazir Kafaalat, Taleemi Wazaif and Nashonuma, and other federal and provincial programmes use it to target support. Being in NSER, with correct and up-to-date data, is the first step to any BISP support. You get into NSER through the free dynamic survey at a BISP tehsil office.
NSER survey at a glance
| What it is | A household survey that records family, education, work, housing and assets |
| What it produces | Your household's PMT score (0 to 100) |
| Who needs it | Families never surveyed, families whose situation changed, households asked to verify |
| Where | BISP tehsil offices and dynamic registration desks |
| Cost | Free |
| Online registration | Not available. The survey is done in person only |
| Result | Check on 8171 a few weeks later |
How NSER started and how it works today
BISP carried out its first nationwide door-to-door poverty survey in 2010–11, and a full national update between 2019 and 2021. Instead of waiting years for the next census-style survey, BISP now keeps the registry current with a dynamic survey: families walk in to a registration desk whenever they need to be added or their circumstances change.
Each household's answers are verified with NADRA records and converted into a Proxy Means Test (PMT) score from 0 to 100. A lower score means a poorer household. The Kafaalat cut-off is 32, or 37 if a family member has a disability. The PMT score guide explains what affects it.
Who needs the NSER survey
- No record on 8171: your household has never been surveyed.
- Family changes: marriage, divorce, a death, new children, a member moving out or in. See how to update family data.
- Worse circumstances: job loss, business closure, illness or disability.
- Wrong data: the previous survey recorded something incorrectly.
- BISP asks you to verify: 8171 says "visit office".
Documents to take
| Document | Why |
|---|---|
| Original CNIC of the head of household | Identifies the household in NADRA's records |
| Original CNIC of the woman of the house | She would be the Kafaalat beneficiary |
| NADRA B-Forms of all children | Children must be on the household record |
| A recent electricity bill, if you have one | Address and utility information |
| Mobile number registered in your name | SMS from 8171 go to this number |
| Disability certificate, if any | Can change the cut-off from 32 to 37 |
Check your NADRA records first. An expired CNIC, or a child missing from your family record, should be fixed at NADRA before the survey.
The NSER survey, step by step
- Find your office in the BISP office directory. Go to the office for your own tehsil.
- Arrive early and take a token. Avoid the first days after a payment announcement.
- The interview. An enumerator asks about every household member: age, education, work and disability. Then come questions about the house (rooms, roof, toilet, water, cooking fuel, electricity), assets (land, livestock, vehicles, appliances) and bills.
- Verification. Your details are matched with NADRA.
- Keep your slip with the date.
- Check the result on 8171 after a few weeks.
The full on-the-day guide is in BISP registration: NSER dynamic survey.
Answering the survey questions
- Answer honestly. BISP cross-checks with NADRA and other government records. Households found to have hidden assets or income can be removed from the programme.
- Count every household member who lives and eats with you, including elderly parents and children.
- Mention disabilities. A member with a disability raises the PMT cut-off.
- Do not borrow or hide items to change the result. The formula weighs many factors together, and false answers put your support at risk.
Before your survey: try the self-check
The tool on this page asks five yes/no questions about the exclusion factors most commonly reported (a government job, a car, foreign travel, large landholding, high phone bills). It cannot calculate your PMT score, but it shows whether something could count against your household before you travel.
The survey is free and done only by BISP staff. There is no online BISP registration, no registration app and no "agent quota". Anyone who charges a fee or promises to fix your score is a fraudster. Report them on 0800-26477.
Frequently asked questions
What is NSER in BISP?
NSER is the National Socio-Economic Registry, the household database BISP uses to calculate PMT scores and decide eligibility.
How do I register in NSER?
Visit a BISP tehsil office or dynamic registration desk for the free survey with your CNIC, your children's B-Forms and a mobile number in your name.
Can I do the NSER survey online?
No. The NSER survey is done only in person by BISP staff.
How long does the NSER result take?
There is no fixed time. Results usually appear on 8171 after several weeks, once NADRA verification is complete.
Can I do the survey again if my situation changes?
Yes. A re-survey through the dynamic survey updates your household data and PMT score.
Is the NSER survey free?
Yes. It is completely free.
Sources
- Benazir NSER: bisp.gov.pk
- BISP 8171 portal: 8171.bisp.gov.pk
- BISP office list: bisp.gov.pk regional offices
Last updated 10 Nov 2026
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