Benazir Kafalat Program Check CNIC | Registration Guide 2025

Q: How to check the status of my Benazir Kafalat application?

You can contact the BISP helpline 0800-26477 or you can also visit the Benazir Tehsil Office. The option to Benazir Kafalat Program Check CNIC application status online is no longer available online.

Kafalat Program, an Unconditional Cash Transfer initiative, was launched in 2008 to help reduce poverty in the country.

By providing families with a fixed cash amount, the program aims to help them cope with rising costs. It was initiated with a vision to empower women across the country, which is why only women are eligible to receive its benefits.

What is Benazir Kafalat Program?

Pakistan faced harsh economic conditions in 2008. Inflation increased from 7% to 25%. On the other hand, food insecurity hit the nation hard. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto was the last nail in the coffin of an already failing economy.

The Government of Pakistan realized that something had to be done. This gave rise to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) which is a targeted program to alleviate poverty. In the early years, unconditional cash transfers were made to the poorest households in Pakistan.

Keeping in mind the changing economy, the BISP has undergone many transformations. The Benazir Kafalat Program is the newest initiative which was launched in 2020 under the Benazir Ehsaas Program.

In this initiative, Government provides 10,500 Rs allowance per quarter (after every 3 months) to the registered women. Now, the allowance is increased to 13,500 Rs from 2025.

Mission of the Benazir Kafalat Program

The primary mission of the program is to give cash support to women belonging to poor families in the country. Apart from this goal, the other major objectives that shape the program for what they are include:

Decrease Poverty: The highlight of the Benazir Kafalat Program is to provide cash transfers regularly to families that are below the poverty line. By doing so, the government will be able to bring these families to par with those above the poverty line; overall improving the economy.
Social Protection: The program acts as a safety net for underprivileged families. By giving them a regular cash stipend, they can absorb financial shocks and uncertainties.
Women Empowerment: It is a one-of-a-kind program in Pakistan when it comes to targeting women. The prime beneficiaries of this program are women. The program stresses and recognizes the fact that women play the main role in running the household and managing the welfare of the children.
Banking Education: People can learn about the banking system and money through this program. By doing so, the government is helping more people avail the banking services.
Linked Programs for Human Welfare: The program does not operate in isolation. There are many linked initiatives associated with it. The Benazir Nashunuma Program aims at improving child and maternal health. You can also get Taleemi Wazifa when you enroll in the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif program.

How Benazir Kafalat Program and Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Program are Linked?

Both the programs are linked together through their main objective of helping underprivileged families of Pakistan. The following table highlights the difference between Benazir Taleemi Wazaif and Kafalat Program to better understand the grounds which link them together.

	Benazir Kafalat Program	Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Program
Purpose	Provide a monthly cash stipend to people from low-income families – especially women.	Offers financial aid to families that enrol their children in school to get quality education.
Eligibility	Anyone belonging to families below the poverty line and meeting the set criteria (defined by the government) is eligible for the cash stipend. Only females can apply. Men can’t directly benefit from it only through association with women.	Families that are registered in Benazir Kafalat Program and fall below the poverty line can enroll in this program.
Impact	To decrease poverty in the long run and to bring everyone above the poverty line.	To instil the importance of education in the minds of the people. Secondly, to increase the literacy rate in the country.

How Both Programs are Linked

They are Conditional Programs. Only the families that are registered in the Benazir Kafalat Program will be able to apply for the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Program. There is no other way in which you can be a part of Taleemi Wazaif otherwise.
Both programs share a common goal – i.e. improving the life of the underprivileged families. The Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Program focuses on providing education to underprivileged children and increasing the literacy rate of the country. On the other hand, the Benazir Kafalat Program tends to the immediate financial requirements of those families.
Both programs have shared beneficiaries. Most of the participants of the Benazir Kafalat Program participate in the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Program.
Both of these programs complement each other. The money from the Kafalat Program helps families get back on their feet without worrying about providing basic education to their children. This is handled by the stipend from the Wazaif Program.
Women’s Empowerment is the core of both programs. Women are the ones who manage the finances of the household and can educate the children.

The two programs tend to the present and future needs of the people. The more educated the population, the better contribution they can make to the economy.

Who is Eligible for the Benazir Kafalat Program?

The Benazir Kafalat Program targets the vulnerable families of the country. Therefore, there is an eligibility criterion that needs to be met to qualify for the program.

The program supports only vulnerable families. Hence, families that are unable to meet the expense of basic needs and medical care can apply for this cash stipend.
Importance is given to women who are working hard to support their families and are unable to do so. Single women – whether widowed or divorced are core members of the program.
While applying the individual must not have any sort of property under their name. She should not even have any agricultural land under their name.
Families that have low utility bills also qualify for the Benazir Kafalat Program.

According to these criteria, the following individuals can apply for the program.

Pakistani National Woman can apply
The woman applying must have been married at a certain point – widowed or divorced.
The woman must hail from a low-income family.
Disabled people
Transgender
People registered formally as low-income families.
Unemployed individuals who struggle to make a minimal living
Families with a lower than 32 PMT score.
Families with a monthly income of 3000 Rs. or less.
The program has a “Next in Kin” option. If a beneficiary die, the legal heirs can apply for the stipend through the appeal mechanism. The heir will have to submit all the necessary documentation.

Benazir Kafalat Program Eligibility Criteria

Who is Not Eligible for the Benazir Kafalat Program?

To ensure that the resources go to deserving individuals, the Benazir Kafalat Program has strict eligibility criteria. Certain individuals are not eligible for the program. These include:

Government Officials and their Spouses: These are people who have a stable source of income. Moreover, the government officials, their spouses and kin get several other benefits along with income.
Upper-Income Earners: The Kafalat Program is eligible for people who earn less than a specific monthly income. For anyone above that income line, the program is not applicable. This is because these individuals/families are already earning enough to meet their basic needs. Therefore, they are not included.
Land and Property Owners: Having property or land under their name shows that the individuals have some sort of investment for future and can meet their expenses.
People with Multiple Vehicles: Having multiple vehicles also suggests that you belong to the higher income group. Otherwise, you should not be able to afford them.
Individuals having Higher Utility Bills: This shows that these individuals are enjoying a higher standard of living.
Individuals Already Receiving Aid: The Kafalat Program is not the only program providing aid to families. There are many charities and individuals that help people on a daily basis. If the individual/family falls below the poverty line but is receiving aid from some other source, they are also excluded from the pool of applicants.
Men: Men can not apply in the program. However, men in the family can benefit when women get the stipend.

Methods to Check Your Eligibility Status

To make it easier for people to check Benazir Kafalat Program CNIC eligibility status, the government provides two easy ways.

1. Benazir Kafalat Program NSER Survey

The beneficiaries for the program are selected/identified by the government itself. The NSER (National Socio Economic Registry) survey is conducted by the government.

In this survey, the officials see how the people are living in the household and what their economic condition is. Each family is given a PMT score.

If the family has a PMT score lower than 32, they automatically fall under the beneficiaries of the Kafalat Program.

2. Benazir Kafalat 8171 SMS Inquiry via CNIC

Benazir Kafalat Program check CNIC eligibility by sending an SMS to 8171. All you need to do is:

Open the message option on your cellphone.
Go to “create message”
Type NEW and give a space
After the space, type in your CNIC number
Send the message to 8171
Follow the instructions that come in the reply message.

3. Benazir Kafalat Program Check CNIC Online

Benazir Kafalat Program check CNIC eligibility status and apply online on 8171 web portal has been suspended by the Government on the official website.

As of 2024, you are unable to apply through the official website. When you enter your ID card number on the official website of BISP, you get the following message:

If an individual wants, they can always visit the nearest BISP tehsil office. Remember to take all the necessary documents with you to save yourself from hassle.

Once you have applied for the Benazir Kafalat Program, government officials will check your eligibility.

Firstly, the ID card is verified to ensure that you are a Pakistan national and above 18 years of age.
Next, they will check whether you meet the eligibility criteria or not.
If yes, you will be called to a special office where your fingerprints will be taken.
After acceptance into the program, your cash will be transferred to either HBL or Bank Alfalah – depending on which one is closer to you.

Required Documents for Benazir Kafalat Program

The following documents are required while applying for the Benazir Kafalat Program 8171:

Your valid CNIC.
Your SIM card
Recent gas and electricity bills
The photocopies of your beneficiaries’ birth certificates.
Proof of your monthly income
Proof and details of your monthly expenses.

How to Receive the Cash Stipend for Benazir Kafalat Program

The cash stipend is distributed to people via two major banks in the country – Bank Alfalah and HBL.

People in Gilgit-Baltistan, KPK, Azad Jammu and Kashmir get the money through Bank Alfalah. The remaining 3 provinces – Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh receive payments through HBL.

The banks help in the following ways:

Setting up special ATMs and collection points.
Safeguard the money until it is distributed.
Help in verifying the identity of people coming to collect the stipend.

What If Your CNIC Does Not Show a Record?

If you CNIC does not show a record, you need to check whether you meet the criteria of the program or not. This can be done by checking the website or sending an SMS to 8171.

Next, you can also recheck whether you have entered the correct CNIC number or not. Mostly, this issue arises when you put in the wrong ID card number.

In case your CNIC is still not showing a record, you can call the BISP helpline number. Or, you can also visit the Benazir registration desk at your local BISP Tehsil Office.

How to Enroll in Benazir Kafalat Program 2024-25

The enrollments for the Benazir Kafaalat Program 2024-2025 have already started.

Here are the steps you can follow:

Check BISP official website to know the starting dates of the program.
Keep all your documents ready to save your time and money. Otherwise, you’ll have to visit BISP Tehsil office several times.
Find and visit the nearest BISP office in your Tehsil. The Tehsil Ofiicer will guide what you need to do.
Fill the application form you’ll get by the Tehsil Officer. Make sure to check the details twice before moving further.
Once you have double-checked everything, submit the form to the officer.

Conclusion

Benazir Kafaalat Program is not just an ordinary program in which money is distributed. It is a part of the Benazir Income Support Program which is devised to help make the life of poor families better. BISP is a detailed program that has introduced various initiatives similar to Kafalat Program that is helping people with food, education and cash. Benazir Nashonuma Program is one of the newly launched program where pregnant woman and children under 2 years receive monthly allowance.

By helping families who are struggling financially, Benazir Income Support Programme serve as a silver lining. When parents have enough money to meet their basic needs and send their kids to school, they will have to worry less.

In the long run, the country will flourish. The literacy rate will increase. The children will join the workforce and the families will pull above the poverty line. The Benazir Kafalat Program will help build a stronger Pakistan.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. It is not possible to enroll in the Benazir Kafalat Program if you are already enrolled in another Government program. This is to ensure that only the truly deserving women get the cash stipend and benefit from it.

You can contact the BISP helpline 0800-26477 or you can also visit the Benazir Tehsil Office. The option to Benazir Kafalat Program Check CNIC application status online is no longer available online.

Check the reason for rejection. If the reason is ineligibility due to not meeting the criteria, there is nothing you can do. On the other hand, if you are not sure about the reason, you can contact the helpline or visit the nearest tehsil Office.

The Benazir Kafalat stipend will be raised from Rs. 10,500 to Rs. 13,500 by 2025.

Send a message on 8171 by entering your CNIC number. You’ll receive a reply with a short time. Remember, the offical site has discontinued the option to Benazir Kafalat Program check CNIC online.

In the Biometric Verification System, the beneficiary needs to present their CNIC at a POS (Point of Sale) or a partner bank’s franchise. They will confirm the identity by placing beneficiary’s thumb impression for the withdrawal. After the transaction, the beneficiary will receive a system-generated receipt showing the payment details and remaining balance.