Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The 8171 Web Portal is the official online platform of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Ehsaas Program in Pakistan. It enables citizens to:

• Check BISP eligibility status instantly
• Verify payment details and tranche information
• Track registration status
• Access information about various social welfare programs
• Find nearest BISP centers

The portal serves over 9 million families nationwide and provides transparent access to government assistance programs without visiting physical offices.

BISP is Pakistan’s largest social safety net program established in 2008 to provide unconditional cash assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable families.

Key Features:

• Cash Payments: Rs. 13,500 per quarter (every 3 months)
• Beneficiaries: Over 9 million families nationwide
• Focus: Women-headed households, widows, orphans, elderly, and persons with disabilities
• Budget 2025-26: Rs. 716 billion allocated (20% increase)
• Payment Method: Digital payments through banks, ATMs, and mobile wallets

BISP aims to empower women by providing direct financial support, reducing poverty, and improving living standards for deserving families across Pakistan.

The Ehsaas Program is a comprehensive umbrella initiative launched in 2019 that includes multiple social protection programs. BISP operates under the Ehsaas umbrella.

Main Ehsaas Programs:

• Ehsaas Kafalat: Regular quarterly cash transfers (Rs. 13,500) – This is the main BISP program
• Ehsaas Emergency Cash: One-time Rs. 25,000 for crisis situations
• Ehsaas Taleemi Wazaif: Rs. 750-2,000 monthly per child for education
• Ehsaas Nashonuma: Rs. 2,000 monthly for nutrition (pregnant women and children 0-2 years)
• Ehsaas Rashan: 40% discount on essential food items
• Sehat Sahulat Program: Free healthcare up to Rs. 1 million

There are three official methods to check your status:

When you check your 8171 status, you’ll receive:

• Eligibility Status: Eligible / Not Eligible / Pending
• Payment Amount: Rs. 13,500 (current quarterly amount)
• Payment Status: Released / Pending / Collected
• Collection Center: Designated BISP office or bank branch
• PMT Score: Your Poverty Means Test score (if registered)
• Next Payment Date: Expected date for next installment
• Registration Details: Survey completion status

If you see “Not Eligible” or “Not Found”, it means either you’re not registered or your PMT score is above the threshold (32).

To qualify for BISP financial assistance, you must meet these criteria:

• PMT Score: Must be below 32 (Poverty Means Test score)
• Valid CNIC: Active Pakistani CNIC required
• Low Income: Monthly household income below poverty threshold (approximately Rs. 25,000)
• Residency: Must be a resident of Pakistan
• Priority Groups: Widows, orphans, elderly (60+), persons with disabilities get priority
• Women-headed Households: Female beneficiaries are prioritized
• No Other Aid: Not receiving benefits from other government cash programs

Follow these steps for BISP registration:

No, complete online registration is NOT available. You can only check your status online, but new registration must be done in person.

What You CAN Do Online:

• ✅ Check eligibility status
• ✅ Verify payment status
• ✅ View PMT score (if registered)
• ✅ Find nearest BISP center

What Requires Physical Visit:

• ❌ New registration/enrollment
• ❌ NSER survey completion
• ❌ Document submission
• ❌ Biometric verification
• ❌ Complaint filing

There are several reasons for this status:

Common Reasons:

• Not Registered: You haven’t completed NSER survey yet
• High PMT Score: Your score is above 32 (above poverty threshold)
• Expired CNIC: Your CNIC validity has ended
• Wrong CNIC Entered: Typing error or included dashes
• CNIC Recently Updated: Changes not yet synced with BISP database
• Income Too High: Based on NSER data, your family income exceeds limits
• Duplicate Entry: Another family member already registered
• Verification Pending: Application under review
• Assets Ownership: Owning valuable property, vehicle, or business

What To Do:

1. Double-check your CNIC format (13 digits, no dashes)
2. Verify CNIC is not expired (renew at NADRA if needed)
3. Visit nearest BISP Tehsil office with original CNIC
4. If not registered, complete NSER survey
5. If already registered, request reassessment if circumstances changed
6. File appeal if you believe decision is incorrect

No, BISP is only for Pakistani residents living within Pakistan.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a resident of Pakistan
• Must be physically present in Pakistan
• Must complete in-person NSER survey
• Must collect payments in Pakistan (biometric verification required)

Why Overseas Pakistanis Are Not Eligible:

• BISP is designed for low-income families living in Pakistan
• Requires physical verification and biometric authentication
• Targets families with limited local resources
• Overseas income disqualifies from poverty criteria

The complete BISP approval process typically takes:

• NSER Survey: 1-2 hours (on registration day)
• Data Entry & Verification: 2-4 weeks
• NADRA Cross-Verification: 1-2 weeks
• PMT Score Calculation: 1 week
• Final Approval: 1-2 weeks
• Total Timeline: 1-2 months from registration to first payment

Factors Affecting Processing Time:

• Accuracy and completeness of submitted information
• NADRA database verification delays
• High volume during registration drives
• Need for additional document verification
• CNIC or family record updates required

Payment Increase History:

• 2023: Rs. 8,500 per quarter
• 2024: Rs. 10,500 per quarter
• 2025: Rs. 13,500 per quarter (28% increase)

Amounts are regularly revised based on inflation and government budget allocations.

BISP payments are released quarterly (every 3 months) according to this schedule:

2025 Payment Calendar:

• Q1 (January-March): Released early January
• Q2 (April-June): Released early April (includes Eid-ul-Fitr period)
• Q3 (July-September): Released early July
• Q4 (October-December): Released early October

How to Know Your Exact Payment Date:

• Check 8171 SMS notifications (sent 2-3 days before release)
• Visit 8171 web portal and enter CNIC
• Call BISP helpline: 080026477
• Visit designated payment center

Why Payment Might Be Delayed:

• Biometric verification not completed
• Expired CNIC needs renewal
• NSER data update required
• System maintenance periods
• Bank processing delays
• Change in family circumstances under review

You can collect payments through multiple convenient methods:

The Ehsaas Emergency Cash (Rs. 25,000) is a special one-time payment for families affected by crises or emergencies.

Who Qualifies:

• Families affected by floods, earthquakes, natural disasters
• Households facing severe economic hardship
• Daily wage workers who lost income due to lockdowns
• Existing BISP beneficiaries in crisis situations
• Borderline families (PMT score 32-40)

How to Check Eligibility:

1. Send CNIC to 8171 via SMS
2. Or check at 8171.bisp.gov.pk
3. Message will indicate if you qualify for Rs. 25,000

Collection Process:

• Same as regular BISP payments
• Visit designated center with CNIC
• Biometric verification required
• Receive Rs. 25,000 in cash or bank transfer

Generally NO – Biometric verification requires personal presence.

Exceptions (Special Cases Only):

• Serious illness (hospitalized, bedridden)
• Severe disability preventing travel
• Extreme old age (80+ years, unable to travel)

Required for Authorized Representative Collection:

1. Original CNIC of beneficiary
2. CNIC of authorized representative
3. Written authorization letter (witnessed)
4. Medical certificate or disability certificate
5. Proof of relationship (if family member)
6. Prior approval from BISP office (cannot be done on payment day)

Alternative Methods:

• SMS: Send CNIC to 8171
• Call: 080026477 (toll-free)
• Visit: Nearest BISP office

Common Reasons & Solutions:

Still Not Working?

• Use web portal: 8171.bisp.gov.pk
• Call helpline: 080026477
• Visit BISP office in person

Impact on Payments: Payments may be temporarily suspended during verification. Once complete, all pending payments will be processed.

Common Causes:

• Worn/faded fingerprints (elderly, manual laborers)
• Dry or rough skin
• Cuts or injuries on fingertips
• Incorrect finger placement
• Dirty biometric scanner
• Fingerprints changed due to age/medical conditions

Immediate Solutions:

1. Clean Fingers: Wash and dry hands properly
2. Moisturize: Apply lotion or press to forehead for natural oils
3. Try Multiple Fingers: System accepts any finger
4. Press Firmly: Apply steady, firm pressure
5. Center Properly: Ensure fingerprint centered on scanner

Taleemi Wazaif provides education stipends to children from BISP families to encourage school enrollment.

Monthly Stipend Amounts (2025):

• Primary (Class 1-5): Rs. 750 per child
• Secondary (Class 6-8): Rs. 1,000 per child
• High School (Class 9-10): Rs. 1,500 per child
• Higher Secondary (Class 11-12): Rs. 2,000 per child

Eligibility:

• Mother must be BISP Kafalat beneficiary
• Child enrolled in school (government or private)
• Minimum 70% attendance required
• Age limit: 5-21 years
• Up to 4 children per family

How to Register:

1. Mother must be BISP beneficiary (check via 8171)
2. Visit BISP office with:
   • Mother’s CNIC
   • Children’s B-Forms or CNICs
   • School enrollment certificate
   • Attendance record
3. Fill Taleemi Wazaif form
4. Stipend added to quarterly BISP payment

Nashonuma targets malnutrition in children under 2 years and pregnant/lactating women.

Benefits:

• Monthly Cash: Rs. 2,000
• Duration: 1,000 days (pregnancy + first 2 years of child)
• Fortified Food: Wawamum supplements
• Health Counseling: Regular nutrition sessions
• Growth Monitoring: Monthly child measurements

Who Benefits:

• Pregnant women from BISP families
• Lactating mothers
• Children 0-24 months

Requirements:

• Monthly health facility visits
• Attendance at nutrition sessions
• Regular growth monitoring
• Follow vaccination schedule

Operating Districts: Currently in select districts of Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan. Contact local BISP office for availability.

Rashan Program provides 40% discount on essential food items at government shops.

Benefits:

• Monthly subsidy: Up to Rs. 2,000
• 40% discount on items
• Guaranteed quality and quantity

Subsidized Items:

• Wheat flour (Atta)
• Sugar
• Cooking oil/Ghee
• Rice
• Pulses (Dal)

Eligibility:

• BISP registered family
• PMT score below 40
• Valid CNIC
• Currently mainly in Punjab (expanding)

How to Access:

1. Check eligibility via 8171
2. Receive SMS with shop details
3. Visit designated Rashan shop
4. Biometric verification
5. Purchase at discounted rates

Yes! You can benefit from multiple Ehsaas programs simultaneously.

Combinable Programs:

• ✅ Kafalat + Taleemi Wazaif
• ✅ Kafalat + Nashonuma
• ✅ Kafalat + Rashan Program
• ✅ Kafalat + Sehat Card
• ✅ All programs + Emergency Cash

Official Channels ONLY:

• ✅ SMS from 8171 only
• ✅ Website: 8171.bisp.gov.pk (.gov.pk domain)
• ✅ Helpline: 080026477
• ✅ Physical BISP offices

Golden Rules:

1. NEVER Pay Money: All services 100% FREE
2. NEVER Share: CNIC, PIN, OTP with anyone
3. NEVER Click Suspicious Links: BISP doesn’t send links
4. Verify First: Visit BISP office to confirm
5. Use Official Channels: Only .gov.pk websites

Report Fraud:

• BISP Helpline: 080026477
• FIA Cybercrime: 1991
• Visit nearest BISP office
• Local police station

Immediate Actions:

1. Verify Status:
   • Send CNIC to 8171
   • Check if registered without your knowledge
2. Visit BISP Office ASAP:
   • Bring original CNIC
   • File written complaint
   • Request investigation
   • Get complaint receipt
3. Update Biometrics:
   • Re-enroll fingerprints
   • Prevents others from collecting
4. File FIR:
   • Police station (if fraud confirmed)
   • FIA Cybercrime: 1991
5. Report to NADRA:
   • If CNIC was stolen/lost
   • Get replacement CNIC

Prevention:

• Watermark CNIC photocopies
• Never leave CNIC with agents
• Regularly check 8171 status
• Keep CNIC secure
• Report lost CNIC immediately