By Ayesha Saba

Pakistan's flagship social protection programme is set to cross the Rs1 trillion mark by FY2028-29, with the government planning a steady increase in allocations for income support, education, nutrition and poverty alleviation initiatives under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

According to the Medium-Term Budget Demand document, available with Wealth Pakistan, total allocations under BISP are projected to increase from Rs844.575 billion in FY2026-27 to Rs921.802 billion in FY2027-28, before crossing the Rs1.014 trillion mark in FY2028-29.

The Benazir Kafaalat-Unconditional Cash Transfer programme will continue to account for the largest share of spending. Allocations for the flagship programme are projected at Rs663 billion for FY2026-27, Rs729.3 billion for FY2027-28 and Rs802.23 billion for FY2028-29.

Support for children's education through the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif-Conditional Cash Transfer programme is also set to expand. The initiative has been allocated Rs90.014 billion for FY2026-27, Rs99.016 billion for FY2027-28 and Rs108.917 billion for FY2028-29.

Similarly, allocations for the Benazir Nashonuma Nutritional Programme are projected to rise from Rs61.507 billion in FY2026-27 to Rs67.658 billion in FY2027-28 and Rs74.423 billion in FY2028-29, highlighting continued emphasis on maternal and child nutrition.

The medium-term framework also earmarks funding for emergency assistance under the Shock Response/One-Time Cash Generosity initiative, with allocations of Rs3 billion in FY2026-27, Rs3.3 billion in FY2027-28 and Rs3.63 billion in FY2028-29.

Hunarmand Skills Development Programme has been allocated Rs500 million for FY2026-27, Rs550 million for FY2027-28 and Rs605 million for FY2028-29.

The Poverty Graduation Programme is also projected to receive Rs500 million, Rs550 million and Rs605 million, respectively, during the same period.

Funding for the Hybrid Social Protection Programme is projected at Rs135 million in FY2026-27, Rs149 million in FY2027-28 and Rs163 million in FY2028-29.

Meanwhile, allocations for the Dynamic National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) Project are expected to increase from Rs3.225 billion in FY2026-27 to Rs3.548 billion in FY2027-28 and Rs3.902 billion in FY2028-29, supporting the continuous updating of the beneficiary database.

The document further projects direct costs of cash transfers and other programme costs at Rs7.125 billion in FY2026-27, Rs7.838 billion in FY2027-28 and Rs8.622 billion in FY2028-29.

Administrative and general expenditures are budgeted at Rs15.570 billion in FY2026-27, Rs9.895 billion in FY2027-28 and Rs10.884 billion in FY2028-29.

The medium-term budget indicates that the government plans to strengthen Pakistan's social safety net through sustained increases in funding for income support, education, nutrition, emergency assistance and poverty reduction programmes over the next three years.

Credit: INP-WealthPk