Good News for BISP Beneficiaries: CNIC Expiry Issue Fixed, Payments Restart May 20, 2025
Introduction: The CNIC Expiry Issue and How It Affected BISP Payments
The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has been a life-changing initiative for many families across Pakistan. However, some beneficiaries’ BISP payments were unexpectedly halted due to a common issue—expired CNICs (Computerized National Identity Cards). If you’re one of the people who have been missing payments due to this problem, we have great news. Starting from May 20, 2025, all pending payments for those who have renewed their CNIC will be cleared.
If you haven’t received your due payments in the past few months despite meeting all eligibility criteria, it’s likely because your CNIC expired. This article will walk you through everything you need to do to resolve the issue and start receiving your payments again without any further complications.
Why Did BISP Payments Get Blocked Due to CNIC Expiry?
The BISP payment system is very strict when it comes to the verification process, and one of the key requirements is having a valid CNIC. Here’s why expired CNICs caused such disruptions:
- System Dependency: BISP’s payment system requires beneficiaries to have an active and valid CNIC. If your CNIC expires, the system does not recognize it as valid, thus pausing your payments until the issue is resolved.
- Automatic Payment Suspension: Once your CNIC expired, the system automatically paused your eligibility for further disbursements. While this measure is in place to prevent fraud, it has unfortunately caused payments to stop for many legitimate beneficiaries.
- Not Permanent, But Temporary: It’s important to note that this payment block was temporary. Once your CNIC was renewed and updated in the NADRA database, your account would be reactivated, and the pending payments would be cleared.
Who Is Affected by the CNIC Expiry Issue?
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If you’re unsure whether you’re affected by the CNIC expiry issue, here’s who qualifies for the resumption of BISP payments:
- Registered Beneficiaries: If you were already enrolled in the BISP program, this issue likely applies to you if your CNIC had expired during the time when payments were being processed.
- Women with Expired CNICs: The majority of affected BISP recipients are women whose CNICs have expired. These women renewed their CNICs but hadn’t received their payment due to a system processing error.
- Pending Payments: If your payments were paused despite you having renewed your CNIC, and you have not yet received your missed payments, you should check your status immediately to get them cleared.
Steps to Resume Your BISP Payment After CNIC Renewal
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you ensure that your BISP payments are resumed after you’ve renewed your CNIC:
Step 1: Ensure Your CNIC is Up-to-Date
Before anything else, you must ensure that your CNIC is renewed and updated in the NADRA database.
- Go to the NADRA Office: If you haven’t renewed your CNIC yet, visit your nearest NADRA office to get it updated.
- Check Your CNIC’s Expiry Date: It’s always better to check the expiry date on your CNIC in advance and avoid delays.
- Verify Renewal Status: After renewing your CNIC, you can check if it has been successfully updated in the NADRA database. It may take a few working days for the new data to reflect in the BISP system.
Step 2: Check Your BISP Status
Once your CNIC is renewed, the next step is to verify if your payment has been resumed.
- SMS Check via 8171: You can check the status of your BISP payment by sending your CNIC number to 8171. This will give you an update on whether your payment is pending or already processed.
- Visit a BISP Center: If the SMS service doesn’t provide sufficient information, you can visit your nearest BISP center or Tehsil office for assistance.
Step 3: Collect Your Payment
Once your payment status is confirmed, here are the different ways you can collect your payment:
- ATM Withdrawals: BISP works with several partner banks like HBL, Bank Alfalah, and others. Once your CNIC renewal is processed, you can withdraw your payment from the designated ATMs.
- Payment Campsites: If you’re located in a remote area, BISP payment campsites will be set up in various districts. Make sure to check for the nearest campsite in your region.
- Manual Payment at Tehsil Office: In case the payment cannot be processed through ATMs or campsites, you will need to visit the local BISP Tehsil office to collect your payment manually.
Step 4: Keep an Eye Out for SMS Notifications
BISP will send you an SMS once your payment is cleared and available for collection. However, if you don’t receive the SMS, don’t worry! You can still check your status by sending your CNIC number to 8171.
Common Issues and Their Solutions
While the process is straightforward, here are some common issues and solutions to keep in mind:
1. CNIC Renewed, But Still No Payment
If you’ve already renewed your CNIC but still haven’t received any payment, don’t panic. Here’s what you should do:
- Solution: It may take a few days for BISP’s system to update after your CNIC renewal. Give it about 3-5 working days, then recheck your status.
2. No SMS Received After CNIC Renewal
If you haven’t received a notification, you may feel frustrated. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t get your payment.
- Solution: Send your CNIC number to 8171 to manually check your eligibility. If there is still an issue, visit your local BISP center.
3. Recently Renewed CNIC
If you’ve only recently renewed your CNIC, BISP’s system might not yet have processed the change.
- Solution: Allow 3-5 working days for the data to sync across the NADRA and BISP systems. After this, recheck your payment status.
Important Tips for Beneficiaries
Here are some preventive steps to avoid issues in the future:
- Always Renew Your CNIC on Time: Avoid last-minute renewals and always check the expiry date of your CNIC to prevent any issues.
- Keep Your Mobile Number Updated: Ensure your mobile number is updated in the BISP system to receive important updates.
- Visit BISP Offices Regularly: Make it a habit to visit the BISP office every 6 months to confirm your data is accurate.
- Be cautious of scams: Fraudsters may try to trick you into paying for “faster payments.” Always rely on official BISP channels and avoid third-party agents.
Conclusion: BISP Payments to Resume Starting May 20, 2025
With BISP payments resuming on May 20, 2025, thousands of beneficiaries will finally receive the assistance they have been waiting for. If your payments were blocked due to expired CNICs, this issue will soon be resolved, and all pending payments will be cleared.
By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that you will receive your payments without delay. Always stay vigilant and rely on official channels to check your status and avoid unnecessary complications.
Remember, keep your CNIC valid, update your mobile number, and stay informed to ensure you continue to receive your much-needed financial aid from the Benazir Income Support Programme.