How does ending BISP cash support affect women and families?

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is one of Pakistan’s biggest welfare schemes. For over 10 years, it has given cash help to poor families, mostly through women. The idea was not only to fight poverty but also to give women more power in their homes.

How BISP Helped Families

Money in Women’s Hands
Unlike other programs, BISP gave money directly to women. This gave them confidence and a say in family matters.

Better Household Life
Families used the money for food, bills, medicine, and children’s schooling. This reduced stress and arguments at home.

Women’s Empowerment
Even small amounts gave women independence. They felt respected, could make decisions, and gained confidence.

Less Violence at Home
Studies showed that when families had this financial support, cases of fights and abuse at home went down.

What Happens When Payments Stop

When the cash is suddenly taken away, families suffer in many ways:

• Financial Stress – Families struggle to pay for food, school, and medicine.

• Loss of Independence – Women lose the control and respect they had gained.

• Higher Risk of Violence – Poverty and stress often bring more conflicts at home.

Some women still keep their confidence and skills, but without money, these gains are fragile.

Global Evidence

Studies in other countries also show the same pattern: cash transfers lower poverty and reduce domestic violence. But when payments stop suddenly, problems return.

Why Sudden Withdrawal is Harmful

• Families may fall back into poverty.

• Women lose their agency and voice.

• Household tensions increase.

• Years of progress can be lost quickly.

A Better Way Forward

If the government has to stop or reduce payments, it should:

• Do it gradually, not suddenly.

• Provide training or small business help.

• Teach families savings and money skills.

• Involve communities in supporting women.

• Link families to health and education services.

Real-Life Stories

• A woman in Sindh said her husband respected her more when she could buy schoolbooks with BISP money. When it stopped, arguments returned.

• In Punjab, one woman gained confidence to go out to markets, but after payments ended, her husband restricted her again.

• In KP, a family used the cash for their child’s medical care. Without it, they had to borrow money, causing stress and fights.

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