BISP Waseela-e-Haq – Women’s business loan scheme | August 2025 update

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has been helping low-income families in Pakistan for years. One of its earlier initiatives, Waseela-e-Haq, was created to give women a chance to start their own small businesses through interest-free loans.

Although this program is no longer active in August 2025, it remains an important chapter in BISP’s history. Many women still look for information about it, hoping to find ways to earn an income and support their families.

What Was Waseela-e-Haq?

Waseela-e-Haq was a special BISP scheme designed to help women from poor households break free from poverty. It gave them up to PKR 300,000 in interest-free loans, along with basic training on how to run a small business.

Main Features:

• Interest-Free Loans – No interest charged, making repayment easier.

• Long-Term Repayment – Women had several years to pay back the loan.

• Business Guidance – Basic training on managing and growing a small business.

• Focus on Women – Loans were given directly to women so they had control over the money and business.

Many women used these loans to open tailoring shops, beauty salons, livestock farms, small grocery stores, or provide home-based services.

Why Was It Created?

The main goal of Waseela-e-Haq was to help families become self-reliant instead of depending only on cash aid. By supporting women, BISP wanted to:

• Increase household income

• Reduce long-term poverty

• Encourage women’s entrepreneurship

• Strengthen women’s role in family decisions

For many, it was their first step toward financial independence.

Why It’s Not Active in 2025

BISP tried different projects over the years—Waseela-e-Haq (business loans), Waseela-e-Rozgar (skills training), and Waseela-e-Sehat (health support). Some were stopped because:

• It was hard to monitor loan repayment and business results.

• There weren’t enough resources to expand nationwide.

• The focus shifted to direct cash aid and education stipends, which gave quicker results.

Current BISP Programs (August 2025)

Even though Waseela-e-Haq is gone, BISP still runs programs to support families:

1. Benazir Kafaalat – Quarterly cash help for poor families.

2. Benazir Taleemi Wazaif – Education stipends for children to stay in school.

3. Benazir Nashonuma – Nutrition support for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

Other Ways Women Can Get Business Loans in 2025

Women who want to start a business can explore:

• Microfinance Banks – Like Khushhali Bank and First Women Bank.

• Government Loan Schemes – Provincial and federal entrepreneurship funds.

• NGOs – Some offer interest-free loans and business training.

Tip: Always check if a program is real before giving personal documents or money.

Who Was Eligible for Waseela-e-Haq (When Active)

To qualify back then, women had to:

• Be part of a BISP-eligible household.

• Be selected through a transparent balloting process.

• Use the loan only for business.

• Commit to repay on time.

Beware of Scams in 2025

Fake loan schemes sometimes use the BISP name. Protect yourself by:

• Avoiding agents who ask for payment to “speed up” your application.

• Checking official BISP announcements.

• Not sharing personal info with unverified people or websites.

If unsure, contact BISP through its official helpline or office.

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