Old age should not mean depending on others for medicine and daily food, and Punjab has run a dedicated social pension for its poorest senior citizens since 2020. The Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program 2026 pays Rs 2,000 a month to eligible elderly people, with priority to elderly women, through the Punjab Social Protection Authority. This guide explains who qualifies, how the stipend is paid and how to register without falling for fake agents.
Detail
Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program 2026
Monthly stipend
Rs 2,000
Payment cycle
Quarterly, Rs 6,000 every 3 months
Age limit
65 years and above
Run by
Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA)
Launched
November 2020, with an initial fund of Rs 2 billion
Helpline
Social Protection Helpline 1221
Official website
pspa.punjab.gov.pk
What Is the Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program
Social pension: The Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program is a social pension initiative by the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) for senior citizens who have no source of income or pension.
Not part of BISP: It is a Punjab government programme, not part of the Benazir Income Support Programme, and registration runs through PSPA and Social Welfare Department channels, not through 8171.
Launched in 2020: The programme was launched in November 2020 with an initial fund of Rs 2 billion, as Punjab’s dedicated social pension for the elderly.
Who it helps: It supports elderly people who are poor and have no income of their own, so they do not have to depend on others for medicine, food and daily expenses.
Current scale: A September 2026 report says the programme is currently benefiting around 82,000 elderly people in Punjab, with Rs 2,400 million allocated for it this year.
Women first: Priority is given to elderly women, and only one beneficiary per household can receive the stipend.
Ba-Himmat Buzurg Stipend and Payment
Monthly amount: Eligible senior citizens receive Rs 2,000 a month under the programme.
Quarterly payment: The stipend is paid every three months as a single instalment of Rs 6,000.
Bank payment: Payments are made through the Bank of Punjab, and beneficiaries receive a debit card to withdraw the stipend from any designated ATM.
No fee: Registration and the stipend are free, and no one should pay any fee to join the programme or to receive a payment.
Continued support: Once approved, the stipend continues every quarter as long as the beneficiary remains eligible under the programme’s rules.
After a beneficiary’s death: If an eligible elderly woman passes away, a male family member aged 65 or above can become eligible in her place, under the programme’s rules.
Age 65 and above: The applicant must be at least 65 years old, verified through the CNIC, and people below 65 cannot benefit from the programme.
Punjab resident: The programme is for residents of Punjab, and the applicant’s record must show a Punjab domicile and address.
No income or pension: The applicant must be poor, with no regular source of income and no pension, which is checked through the government’s survey and records.
Poverty score: Eligibility depends on the household poverty score from the survey, and guides report the qualifying range as a PMT score between 16.18 and 30, while other guides quote a score below 20, so confirm the current rule on the helpline before applying.
One per household: Only one family member can be a beneficiary, with priority to the eldest woman in the household.
Not a BISP beneficiary: The programme is meant for elderly people who do not qualify for the BISP Kafalat programme, so existing BISP beneficiaries are not the target group.
PSER record: In 2026 the programme is linked to the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry, and the elderly person’s data should be updated in PSER.
How to Register for Ba-Himmat Buzurg
Step 1 — Check the age: Confirm the applicant is 65 or older on the CNIC, because age is the first and firmest condition of the programme.
Step 2 — Update PSER: Make sure the household record is updated in the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry at pser.punjab.gov.pk, since the 2026 process uses PSER data.
Step 3 — Visit the PSPA portal: Registration guidance is available on the PSPA website at pspa.punjab.gov.pk and through the PSPA DPMIS portal, dpmis.punjab.gov.pk.
Step 4 — Union Council survey: The Punjab government conducts a Union Council-level survey to verify the information given, so give correct details and keep documents ready.
Step 5 — Visit the office if needed: Senior citizens can also register through PSPA or Social Welfare Department channels, and the Social Protection Helpline 1221 can guide them to the right office.
Step 6 — Wait for approval: After the survey and verification, approved beneficiaries are informed and their debit card is issued for payment.
Conflicting advice noted: Some guides wrongly say to register through the 8171 portal or by sending a CNIC to 8171, but the programme is not run through 8171, so follow PSPA channels only.
Debit card: Approved beneficiaries receive a debit card, which is used to withdraw the stipend from any designated ATM.
Bank of Punjab: The Bank of Punjab is the partner bank for the programme, and the stipend is transferred to the beneficiary’s designated bank account.
Quarterly cycle: Each payment of Rs 6,000 covers three months, and payments are made every three months for those already registered.
Keep the card safe: The debit card and its PIN should stay with the beneficiary, and no one else should be given the PIN or the card.
Missed payment: If a quarterly payment does not arrive, the beneficiary should call the Social Protection Helpline 1221 or visit the nearest Social Welfare office with the CNIC and the debit card.
Record updates: Any change in address, mobile number or family situation should be reported to PSPA, so payments are not stopped by an out-of-date record.
Common Mistakes and Fraud Warnings
Never pay for registration: Registration is free, and anyone asking for money to register an elderly person or to release a payment is committing fraud.
No 8171 registration: Do not send your CNIC to 8171 for this programme, because Ba-Himmat Buzurg is not registered through 8171, and such messages are misleading.
Only one beneficiary: Applying for two people from the same household wastes time, because only one family member can be a beneficiary.
Wrong age: Applying before the age of 65 leads to rejection, so check the CNIC date of birth first.
Fake agents: Do not hand your CNIC, debit card or PIN to any agent who promises faster approval or a bigger payment.
Out-of-date survey: A household that has not updated its PSER record may be missed, so keep the registry record current.
What is the Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program stipend in 2026? Eligible senior citizens receive Rs 2,000 a month, paid quarterly as Rs 6,000 every three months, through a Bank of Punjab debit card.
Who can apply for the Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program? Punjab residents aged 65 and above who are poor and have no regular income or pension. Priority goes to elderly women, and only one person per household can be a beneficiary.
How do I register for Ba-Himmat Buzurg? Update the household record in the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry, then follow the registration guidance on the PSPA website or through PSPA and Social Welfare Department channels. The Social Protection Helpline 1221 can guide you to the right office.
Is the Ba-Himmat Buzurg Program part of BISP? No. It is a separate Punjab government programme run by the Punjab Social Protection Authority, and it is not registered through 8171.
What is the poverty score needed for Ba-Himmat Buzurg? Eligibility depends on the household poverty score from the government survey. Guides report different ranges, so confirm the current rule on helpline 1221 before applying.
How is the Ba-Himmat Buzurg payment received? Approved beneficiaries receive a debit card from the Bank of Punjab and withdraw the quarterly Rs 6,000 from any designated ATM.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
