Pakistan expands social protection coverage, targets 10.2M BISP beneficiaries

Pakistan has announced an expansion of social protection programs for fiscal year 2026-27, with the Benazir Income Support Program Kafaalat initiative set to reach 10.2 million beneficiaries.

The government is also broadening skills development, interest-free lending and poverty graduation measures aimed at supporting vulnerable households. Budget documents show that poverty has risen to 28.9 percent of the population, up from 21.9 percent in 2018-19.

What is the BISP Kafaalat expansion for 2026-27?

The BISP Kafaalat program will extend coverage to 10.2 million beneficiaries during FY2026-27, up from 10 million households reached in the outgoing fiscal year. Quarterly cash transfers were raised from Rs13,500 to Rs14,500 in January 2026 to help recipients cope with inflation. The expansion forms part of a broader push to strengthen Pakistan's social safety net and reduce poverty.

The government also plans to expand the BISP Hunarmand Program and integrate it with the Accelerated Learning Programme to improve employability and income generation for low-income families. Under the Program for Growth and Economic Participation, productive assets will be provided to 36,676 households, while 51,185 individuals will receive skills training to support their livelihoods. These measures are designed to complement direct cash transfers with pathways out of poverty.

What are Pakistan's poverty alleviation targets for 2026-27?

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund aims to disburse 86,000 interest-free loans and complete 80 climate-resilient infrastructure projects during FY2026-27. These initiatives are intended to promote financial inclusion, strengthen community resilience and support sustainable development in underserved areas. Officials said the programs are designed to protect vulnerable households from economic shocks while building longer-term livelihood capacity.

The budget documents also set out plans to advance the National Poverty Graduation Program, which helps households move off cash transfer dependency and into sustainable income. The program reached 370,567 households during FY2025-26, with 96,000 households graduating from BISP cash transfer assistance during the year.

How did Pakistan's social protection programs perform in 2025-26?

BISP coverage expanded to 10 million households during FY2025-26, while the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif program supported 9.6 million children through conditional cash transfers linked to school attendance. The Benazir Nashonuma initiative served 4.2 million beneficiaries through nutrition and health interventions. Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal provided shelter and meals to more than 320,000 individuals and extended financial assistance to 26,187 beneficiaries during the same period.

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund disbursed 272,824 interest-free loans in FY2025-26, with 66 percent of financing directed to women. The program also generated approximately 32,000 employment opportunities through support for small and medium enterprises. Officials said the expanded social protection initiatives for FY2026-27 aim to enhance financial inclusion, improve human capital development and create livelihood opportunities across the country.