Benazir Income Support Program Cash Assistance Raised from PKR 14,500 to PKR 19,500

Islamabad: The government has announced that the monthly cash assistance under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) will be increased from PKR 14,500 to PKR 19,500 starting January 2027.

According to sources, by the end of the fiscal year 2026, an additional 200,000 families will be enrolled in the program, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to approximately 10.2 million households.

Officials from the Ministry of Finance stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recommended against providing subsidies on petroleum products. Considering the country’s financial position, the government has instructed the provinces to provide targeted subsidies for underprivileged groups from their respective budgets.

The decision ensures that petroleum prices will remain aligned with global market rates, while approximately PKR 3.5 billion in additional petroleum levy was collected last month. National petrol consumption has reportedly increased by around 24%.

To support the agricultural sector, the government has also decided that no Federal Excise Duty (FED) will be levied on fertilizers in the next fiscal year, offering relief to farmers.

Sources added that the government has assured the IMF in writing that the number of families benefiting from BISP will continue to gradually increase, strengthening the country’s social protection system and providing financial support to the most vulnerable segments of society.