BISP uses many official terms that can be confusing. This BISP terms glossary explains the most common words in plain language, from programme names to payment and complaint terms. Bookmark it and look up any word you do not recognise while reading our guides or official messages.
Programme terms — the big names
BISP
The Benazir Income Support Programme — Pakistan's largest social safety net, run by the Government of Pakistan. It provides regular cash support to eligible low-income households. This BISP terms glossary focuses on the words used in its announcements and forms. See our beginner's guide to what BISP is.
Kafaalat
The main cash transfer under BISP. It is usually paid to a woman in the household, who collects it on behalf of her family. When people say a family is "receiving BISP", they usually mean Kafaalat payments.
Nashonuma
The Benazir Nashonuma Programme supports pregnant and lactating women and children under two years old. It links cash support with nutrition-related conditions, so recipients are expected to follow the programme's guidance at designated centres.
Waseela-e-Taleem
The education conditional cash transfer. It adds payments for families whose children stay enrolled and attend school regularly, under the school enrolment and attendance conditions set by the programme.
NSER
The National Socio-Economic Registry — the survey database behind BISP decisions. Household information collected through surveys is stored here and used to evaluate need. See our NSER guide.
Checking terms — how your status is checked
8171
The official short code and portal for checking your BISP registration and status. You send your CNIC from your registered mobile number and receive a reply about eligibility and payment. It is also the number people mean when they say "check on 8171". Learn more about checking eligibility on 8171.
CNIC
The Computerised National Identity Card issued by NADRA. BISP uses it to build, match, and verify household records, and to confirm identity during payments and surveys.
NADRA
The National Database and Registration Authority — the body that issues CNICs and holds the identity records BISP checks against. A mismatch between your BISP record and your NADRA record is a common reason for failed checks.
Web portal
BISP's official website, where announcements, forms, and program details are published. You can check status on the web portal, but always confirm you are on the official site before entering any personal details.
Proxy Means Test (PMT)
The method that estimates household need from visible indicators such as housing, assets, and family size, to build a poverty score. It lets BISP rank households without a full income audit. See our poverty score guide.
Poverty scorecard
The household's official score that results from the Proxy Means Test. This score decides whether a household falls within the current eligible range. You may also hear it called the PMT score.
Threshold
The score cut-off used to separate eligible from non-eligible households. The exact figure is set by BISP and can change, so always confirm current details through official channels rather than trusting a number quoted elsewhere.
Survey and process terms
Dynamic Survey
The process of refreshing household information so records stay accurate. When a survey is scheduled, BISP contacts households in the area. If you are called for one, do not miss it — an incomplete survey can stop payments. See our Dynamic Survey guide.
Re-survey
A repeat survey used to re-verify a household's circumstances — for example after a complaint, an appeal, or when the previous record has gone stale. Re-surveys help BISP confirm that the stored information still matches reality.
Beneficiary
The person who receives support from the programme — often a woman in the household. A beneficiary collects the instalment and is the contact person for payment messages.
Head of household
The person whose CNIC anchors the household record and who answers for the family during surveys and checks. The beneficiary and the head of household may be different people.
Registration drive
A scheduled campaign where BISP teams register new households in a district or tehsil, usually before a new round of payments. If you have never been surveyed, watch for a drive in your area.
Record
The stored information about your household in the BISP system — names, CNICs, address, and survey details. Keep it accurate; wrong details cause failed payments. See our guide to updating BISP information.
Payment terms
Payment cycle
One complete round of payments, released in stages across districts. A cycle runs over weeks rather than on a single day, which is why some families get paid before others.
Phase
A group of districts that receives its payment in a given part of the cycle — a phase is a district group within a cycle. Your phase tells you roughly when to expect your instalment.
Instalment
A single payment within a payment cycle — the amount paid to the beneficiary in that round. Several instalments together make up a full cycle's support.
Biometric verification
Identity confirmation using your thumbprint at the point of payment. If your print does not match, you cannot collect cash until the issue is resolved at an office.
Cash point
An official payment point — a designated bank, franchise, or cash centre — where verified beneficiaries collect their instalment. Cash points are selected and announced officially for each phase.
Payment agent
A person or shop authorised to disburse BISP cash. Deal only with authorised agents; never hand over your CNIC or OTP to anyone promising faster payment.
Wallet
A mobile wallet or bank account used to receive the payment electronically instead of collecting cash at a cash point. If your wallet details change, update them so payment is not blocked. See our guide on what to do if a payment is not received.
Procedure terms — appeals and complaints
Eligibility
Whether a household meets the current criteria for support, based on its evaluation. See our guide to BISP eligibility criteria.
Exclusion
Being left out of the programme — because the household's score falls outside the range, or because of specific disqualifying circumstances. See our guide on who is excluded.
Appeal
A formal request to review a BISP decision you disagree with, such as a rejection. File it through official channels — see our appeal process guide.
Complaint reference
The number or receipt you get when you file a complaint. Keep it safe — you use it to track the status of your case.
Enrolment
The process of getting a household registered in the BISP system, usually through a survey or registration drive.
Words people often confuse
A few pairs of terms in this BISP terms glossary look similar but mean different things. Getting them right helps you follow official messages accurately.
- Beneficiary vs head of household: the head of household is the person whose CNIC anchors the record; the beneficiary is the person who actually receives the instalment. They are often different people in the same family.
- Kafaalat vs Nashonuma: Kafaalat is the main unconditional cash transfer; Nashonuma is a separate programme with nutrition-related conditions for mothers and young children.
- Payment cycle vs phase: a cycle is the whole round of payments; a phase is one district group within that round. Your phase, not the cycle, tells you when your district is paid.
- Poverty score vs threshold: your household's score is its own figure; the threshold is the cut-off the whole area is judged against. Your score is compared to the threshold to decide eligibility.
If a message mixes these up, check the exact word used. This BISP terms glossary helps you confirm which meaning fits — the difference decides whether a sentence is about the whole programme or a single payment.
How to use this BISP terms glossary
When you read an article or an official message, look up any term you do not understand here. If a term is missing, its meaning usually follows from the context or is explained in the linked guides. We keep this BISP terms glossary updated as new words appear in announcements.
More terms you may meet
As you read BISP guides, you may also meet words like SMS, OTP, and Form B. An SMS is the text message BISP sends to your registered number — for example the 8171 status reply. An OTP, or one-time password, is a code used to verify your identity; never share it with anyone.
Form B is the birth certificate that families need when registering a newborn child. If a term still confuses you, check the official BISP website for announcements. This BISP terms glossary also links to full guides, such as how to spot fake BISP news.
Conclusion
This BISP terms glossary gives you a simple reference for the words you will meet most often, from Kafaalat to cash points. Bookmark it and use it alongside our other guides whenever a term is unclear.
Frequently asked questions
Kafaalat is the main cash transfer under BISP, usually paid to a woman in the eligible household.
The National Socio-Economic Registry is the survey database that holds household information used in BISP decisions.
It is the method BISP uses to estimate household need and build a poverty score from household indicators such as housing, assets, and family size.
A phase is a group of districts that receives its instalment in a given part of a payment cycle. Payments are released phase by phase, so not every district gets cash on the same day.
You can file an appeal through official BISP channels. Start at your BISP office or the helpline, keep your CNIC ready, and note any reference number you receive so you can track your case.
Yes. Checking your BISP status on 8171 is free through official channels. Anyone who asks for money to check your status or improve your eligibility is not an official agent.
