ISLAMABAD: The federal government has distributed over Rs412 billion under social protection programmes in the first nine months of the current financial year, with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) receiving the lion’s share of Rs385.64 billion, accounting for nearly 94 per cent of the total disbursement.

According to Pakistan’s Economic Survey for the financial year 2024-25 released by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at a news conference here on Monday, the BISP beneficiaries received this amount out of the total allocated amount of Rs598.72bn for the outgoing fiscal year.

The survey has provided the complete details of the disbursement of the money under various social protection programmes.

BISP

According to the survey report, BISP has disbursed Rs2.607 trillion benefitting approximately 9.87 million individuals since its inception in July 2008. The data reveals that Rs328.47bn were distributed among two million BISP beneficiaries under CCT [Conditional Cash Transfer] and Rs57.17bn were given to 7.87 million beneficiaries under UCT [Unconditional Cash Transfer] programmes during the period from July 2024 to March 31, 2025.

9.87m BISP beneficiaries received whooping Rs385.6bn in nine months

According to the survey, from July 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, a total of 6.9m existing beneficiary households were re-surveyed through Dynamic Registration Centres (DRCs) across the country. Additionally, 13 million new households registered themselves, further expanding the programme’s reach and coverage.

Following the federal government’s directives, BISP is providing cash assistance to daily wage workers at the Chaman border affected by the border closure and One Document Regime. The Balochistan government identified 8,000 workers, each receiving Rs20,000 per month for six months. During July-March, Rs308 million were disbursed to around 2,183 beneficiaries.

PPAF

The government claims to have disbursed Rs2.19bn through the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and 68pc were women borrowers.

The survey shows that 79.36pc loans were distributed in Punjab, followed by Sindh (12.35pc), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (5.54pc), Balochistan (1.53pc), Azad Jammu & Kashmir (0.69pc), and Gilgit-Baltistan (0.52pc).

Since its inception, the PPAF has formed 171,000 community institutions with 2.67m members (63pc of whom are women) and has held over 20,600 capacity building events. From July 2024 to March 2025 alone, 1,450 new institutions were created and 23,500 community members, half of them women, received managerial training.

Zakat

The survey shows that between July and March FY2025, Rs12.2bn was distributed to provinces and federal territories under Zakat programmes, reflecting a 65.2pc increase compared to the previous year. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Zakat has become a devolved subject. However, under the Rules of Business, 1973, the federal government retains responsibility for the collection of Zakat. The collected funds are then distributed to the provinces and federal areas based on a formula approved by the Council of Common Interests.

PBM

The Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) disbursed Rs6.5bn during this period to support orphans, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups at the district level, according to the survey. A grant of Rs10bn has been allocated for FY2025 out of which Rs6.51bn has been disbursed during July-March which is only 65.13pc of the allocated amount.

Financial assistance amounting to Rs1.285bn at a rate of Rs2.15m per child was provided to public and private sector panel hospitals for hearing impairment devices and allied surgeries for registered patients.

The PBM Shelter Homes provide free daily meals, temporary overnight accommodation, and additional support such as healthcare, hygienic food, and dignified care in a safe environment. With Rs270.26m disbursed, the initiative has benefited 1,176,349 individuals.

Pakistan Sweet Homes provide free daily meals, temporary overnight accommodation and additional support such as healthcare, hygienic food, and dignified care in a safe environment. With Rs835.92m disbursed, the initiative has benefited 4,169 individuals.

EOBI

The Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) collected Rs56.84bn, registering a 37.5pc increase over the same period last year. In the first half of FY2025, contribution collections rose significantly to Rs10.92bn, mainly due to record checking, recovery of arrears, and registration of new employers. EOBI has achieved 95pc of its revised annual target of Rs80bn by March 2025 and is on track to meet 100pc of its goal by year-end.

Despite recent achievements, EOBI faces major challenges in expanding employee coverage due to uncertainty following the 18th Amendment in 2010. This has caused confusion among industries, many of which await a Supreme Court judgment and are hesitant to pay contributions. The situation is further complicated by the Sindh province introduced its own EOB Act, creating legal and administrative complexities. The situation worsened after the Supreme Court’s 2017 judgment invalidated EOBI related amendments made through Finance Acts from 2005 to 2008. This led to reduced contribution rates by employers, exclusion of banks from EOBI coverage, resistance to registering new workers, and demands for refunds, causing EOBI losses of billions.

WWF

According to the survey, the Workers’ Welfare Fund (WWF) disbursed Rs5.46bn, covering 34,231 cases of mishaps nationwide.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2025