Women aged above 35 who are unmarried will soon become eligible for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), officials informed a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sub-committee, where members reviewed issues related to eligibility for the country’s largest social welfare programme.
During the discussion, committee member Bilal Mandokhail raised concerns about the exclusion of unmarried women from the programme.
He said many unmarried women, especially those without family support or a stable source of income, face financial difficulties and deserve assistance through government welfare schemes.
Mandokhail urged authorities to review the eligibility criteria and ensure that vulnerable women are not left out of the programme.
In response, BISP officials told the committee that they are working to include unmarried women aged above 35 in the programme. They said the move aims to extend financial support to women who often struggle to meet their basic needs due to a lack of income and support systems.
Officials said the proposed change would help strengthen social protection and provide relief to a larger number of deserving women across the country.
The Benazir Income Support Programme is Pakistan’s flagship social safety net and provides financial assistance to millions of low-income families. The programme plays a key role in supporting vulnerable groups and reducing poverty.
While officials confirmed the planned inclusion of unmarried women over 35, they have not yet announced the registration process, implementation timeline, or detailed eligibility requirements. Further guidelines are expected to be released after the policy is formally approved and implemented.
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