Unmarried women aged over 35 will now be considered for inclusion in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), officials informed a parliamentary committee during a recent meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sub-committee.
The issue was raised during discussions on social welfare coverage, where lawmakers expressed concern that unmarried women without family support were being left out of Pakistan’s largest financial assistance programme.
Committee member Bilal Mandokhail highlighted that many unmarried women belong to vulnerable segments of society and often struggle financially without stable household support or income sources.
In response, BISP officials confirmed that steps are being taken to expand the eligibility criteria. Under the proposed changes, unmarried women above the age of 35 would be included in the programme’s support structure.
Officials said the move is aimed at broadening the safety net and ensuring that financially vulnerable women who are currently excluded can receive assistance under the scheme.
However, authorities did not announce a specific timeline for implementation, stating that the proposal is still under consideration and will be rolled out after necessary approvals and policy adjustments.
Also read: BISP Boosts Financial Support through Kafalat Programs
