Unmarried women aged over 35 will be included in the eligibility criteria of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), officials informed a parliamentary committee during a meeting on Tuesday.
The issue came under discussion at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sub-committee, where members raised concerns over the exclusion of unmarried women from Pakistan’s largest social welfare program.
Committee member Bilal Mandokhail said many unmarried women, particularly those without family support, belong to vulnerable segments of society and should be considered for financial assistance under BISP.
In response, BISP officials told the committee that efforts are underway to expand the program’s eligibility criteria to include unmarried women above the age of 35.
The move is aimed at extending financial support to a group that has traditionally remained outside the program despite facing economic hardship.
The proposed inclusion is expected to provide relief to thousands of unmarried women who lack adequate financial support and depend on limited sources of income. Officials did not specify a timeline for the implementation of the revised eligibility criteria.
