Pakistan’s federal government runs eight active welfare, education, health, and housing schemes in 2026, covering cash support, student laptops, business loans, hospital treatment, and housing finance. BISP/Ehsaas remains the largest, reaching families through the 8171 portal and Kafaalat stipend. The PM Youth Programme runs the laptop scheme and youth business loans through HEC and participating banks. Sehat Sahulat and PM Apna Ghar cover health insurance and housing finance respectively. Pick your scheme below to go straight to its full guide.
Cash & Welfare
BISP / Ehsaas — Benazir Kafaalat, Taleemi Wazaif, Nashonuma is the government’s main cash-support programme, run through the 8171 web portal and SMS service, currently under Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid. Budget 2025-26 raised BISP’s allocation by roughly 20% over the previous year, according to bisp.gov.pk’s published budget documents. This hub routes to eligibility checking, the education stipend, and the child-nutrition programme below.
- BISP Eligibility & CNIC Check (8171) — how to confirm your household is registered, step by step.
- Taleemi Wazaif — Education Stipend — quarterly payments for school-going children, tied to a 70% attendance rule.
- Nashonuma — Nutrition Support — health and nutrition payments for pregnant women and children under two.
Ehsaas Ramzan Package / Rashan runs a seasonal cash top-up for registered BISP families during Ramzan, disbursed through the same 8171 verification system. It opens once a year and closes once the allocated budget is exhausted.
Education
PM Youth Programme — Laptop Scheme & Business Loans is the second-largest federal cluster, run by pmyp.gov.pk in coordination with HEC for the laptop side. This hub routes to the laptop distribution and the business/agriculture loan track below.
- PM Laptop Scheme — Phase VI, 2026 — free laptops for HEC-verified public-sector university students, distributed by merit within each university’s quota.
- PM Youth Business & Agriculture Loan — interest-free and low-markup loans for young entrepreneurs and farmers through partner banks.
HEC Scholarships covers need-based, merit, and overseas scholarship tracks run directly by the Higher Education Commission at hec.gov.pk, separate from the PM Youth Programme’s laptop track.
Health
Sehat Sahulat Programme relaunched in January 2026 for Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, giving enrolled families free treatment at empanelled hospitals up to the programme’s annual limit, verified at sehatsahulat.gov.pk.
Housing
PM Apna Ghar Housing Programme offers subsidised construction and purchase financing for first-time homeowners through the relevant federal housing ministry, aimed at low- and middle-income applicants who don’t already own a home.
Transport
PAVE / National E-Bike Policy subsidises electric motorcycles for eligible buyers under the New Energy Vehicle Policy 2025–2030, distributed through registered dealers rather than a cash payout.
If you’re not sure where to start: beneficiary families should check BISP eligibility first, university students should check the PM Laptop Scheme’s current phase dates, and anyone needing hospital treatment should confirm Sehat Sahulat enrollment before an emergency, not during one.
In practice, the 8171 portal and the PM Laptop Scheme’s HEC dashboard both slow down badly in the final 48 hours before a listed deadline; checking early in the morning or well ahead of the closing date avoids most of the frustration beneficiaries report.
FAQs
Which federal scheme should I check first?
Start with BISP if your household income is low and irregular, since it covers the widest range of cash and stipend support. Check bisp.gov.pk or send your CNIC to 8171 to confirm registration status before applying anywhere else.
Is BISP the same as Ehsaas?
BISP now runs the Kafaalat, Taleemi Wazaif, and Nashonuma programmes that were previously grouped under the Ehsaas name. The 8171 portal and SMS service work the same way regardless of which name you see used.
How much has the federal government allocated to BISP for 2025-26?
BISP’s budget for 2025-26 rose by about 20% over the previous year, according to the budget documents published on bisp.gov.pk. Exact family-level payment amounts vary by programme and are confirmed only after an 8171 eligibility check.
Who can apply for the PM Laptop Scheme?
Students enrolled in HEC-recognised public-sector universities and degree colleges are eligible, with laptops allocated by university quota and merit within Phase VI. Students at privately affiliated colleges of public universities are not eligible under current HEC rules.
What if my BISP application shows as rejected or “not eligible”?
Send your CNIC again to 8171 to confirm the exact reason shown, since eligibility is scored against NSER survey data rather than a manual decision. If your household details have changed, visit the nearest BISP Tehsil office to request an NSER survey update rather than reapplying blind.
Is Sehat Sahulat still active in 2026?
Yes, the programme relaunched in January 2026 for Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Coverage for other regions runs through the matching provincial Sehat Card programme instead of the federal one.
Where do I report someone demanding payment for a “free” federal scheme?
None of the schemes on this page charge a fee to register, apply, or receive a payment. Report any demand for money to the BISP helpline at tel:080026477″>0800-26477 or to the relevant scheme’s official helpline listed on its own page.