BISP E-Katcheri: How to Raise Your Kafaalat Complaint Live With the BISP Chairperson
The BISP E-Katcheri is a one-hour live phone-in with the chairperson. Five were held in 2026 to August. See how to prepare and the helpline to use meanwhile.
Short answer: The BISP E-Katcheri is a one-hour live session where the chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme takes calls from beneficiaries and orders officers to fix their complaints. BISP held five in 2026 up to August, with 27 to 37 callers each time. Dates are not fixed, so watch BISP's verified Facebook page, and use the 0800-26477 helpline in the meantime.
Most BISP problems never reach the top. A woman whose Kafaalat payment stopped, or whose agent cut Rs 1,000 from her stipend, usually ends up in a queue at the tehsil office. The E-Katcheri is the rare chance to put that problem to Senator Rubina Khalid directly, with the director generals sitting in the same room.
We read every BISP press release from 2026 on bisp.gov.pk on 20 October 2026. Five describe a live E-Katcheri. This is what they say about how it works, who gets through, and what to have ready.
The E-Katcheri is a live phone-in with the BISP chairperson
An E-Katcheri is an online public hearing. BISP's chairperson sits at the Islamabad headquarters for about an hour while callers from across Pakistan describe their problems. She directs the officers present to resolve each complaint and report back, according to BISP's press releases.
"Katcheri" is an old word for a court or public hearing. The "E" means it happens over the phone and online instead of in a hall. The 14 July 2026 session was held through BISP's official Facebook page, with women beneficiaries calling in.
BISP held five E-Katcheris in 2026 up to August
BISP's press releases record sessions on 22 January, 10 March, 4 May, 14 July and 3 August 2026. Four give a caller count: 27, 36, 27 and 37. That is 127 callers in four hours, by our addition. BISP's September newsletter says the E-Katcheri continued that month but gives no date.
| Date | Callers | Main message from BISP |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 22 January 2026 | 27 | Report any deduction; Hunarmand skills portal open |
| Tuesday 10 March 2026 | 36 | Kafaalat raised from Rs 13,500 to Rs 14,500 a quarter |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | 27 | "No Benazir SIM, No Payment", SIM deadline 15 June |
| Tuesday 14 July 2026 | Not stated | Payments only into the wallet on the official Benazir SIM |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | 37 | Use only verified BISP accounts; no fee for any service |
The gaps between sessions were 47, 55, 71 and 20 days. So there is no monthly rhythm you can plan around. BISP's releases are published on the day, not in advance, which makes it easy to miss one.
Follow BISP's verified Facebook page to catch the next session
The press releases do not publish a phone number for the E-Katcheri or announce the date ahead. BISP says its official Facebook page carries the photograph of Benazir Bhutto with a blue verification badge. That page is where the 14 July session ran, so follow it.
Be careful with copies. BISP warns that 8171 is its only official SMS number and that messages from any other number are fake. A page or WhatsApp group that asks for money to "book" your call is a scam, because BISP says all its services are free.
We checked which BISP addresses actually work in October, and the results are in BISP's official links, tested. Bookmark the real page before the next session, not during it.
Prepare your complaint before you call
A caller gets a few minutes at most. Have the beneficiary's CNIC number, a one-line description of the problem, the dates involved and any SMS from BISP or the bank ready. BISP tells beneficiaries to keep the payment SMS, because it proves how much was sent.
- Write the CNIC number of the woman registered with BISP on a slip of paper.
- Write the problem in one sentence, such as "payment of Rs 14,500 not received since July".
- Note the dates: when you last received money, and when you visited the tehsil office.
- Keep the credit and withdrawal SMS messages, and do not delete them.
- Follow BISP's verified Facebook page and call when the session is announced live.
If an agent took money from your payment, say how much and where. BISP's press releases say the woman should demand the full amount shown in the SMS and report the agent. The pattern of these cuts is set out in illegal deductions by BISP agents.
Use the helpline and tehsil office between sessions
Do not wait weeks for the next E-Katcheri. BISP's standing routes are the toll-free helpline 0800-26477 and your nearest tehsil office. A complaint logged there is the record an officer will look for if you later raise it live.
| Route | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Helpline 0800-26477 | Any payment, SIM or eligibility problem, any day |
| Tehsil office | Biometric failure, SIM issue, survey update |
| 8171 | Checking eligibility by SMS; the only official number |
| E-Katcheri | A problem the office has not fixed |
The full complaint process, with what each route can and cannot fix, is in complaining about a BISP payment. For wallet and SIM questions, see the BISP digital wallet and Benazir SIM. If BISP says you are not eligible, the fix is usually a survey update rather than a complaint.
Common questions
What is the BISP E-Katcheri?
A live session of about one hour in which the BISP chairperson takes calls from beneficiaries and orders officers to resolve their complaints.
When is the next BISP E-Katcheri?
BISP has not published a schedule. Sessions in 2026 were 20 to 71 days apart, so follow the verified Facebook page.
What number do I call?
BISP's press releases do not print one. Use the number shown live on BISP's verified page during the session, never one sent by SMS from an unknown number.
Is there a fee to take part?
No. BISP says all its services are free. Anyone charging to get your call through is a fraud.
How many people get through?
Between 27 and 37 callers per session in the four 2026 releases that give a count.
Can I complain without the E-Katcheri?
Yes. Call 0800-26477 or visit your tehsil office. Those routes are open every working day.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 20 October 2026. We read BISP press releases No. 09 (22 January), No. 20 (10 March), No. 35 (4 May), No. 56 (14 July) and No. 66 (3 August 2026), and the September 2026 newsletter, all on the BISP website on 20 October 2026. The 0800-26477 helpline, the 8171 rule and the advice on SMS proof come from those releases. The 127 total and the gaps between sessions are our own arithmetic. BISP published no E-Katcheri release for September or October that we could find, and no call-in number.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
