The Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) is a key institution working under the Government of Punjab, Pakistan. Its primary goal is to reduce poverty, improve livelihoods, and uplift vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. As of 2025, PSPA continues to expand its outreach, improve transparency, and introduce modern digital tools to enhance service delivery.
This article provides a detailed overview of PSPA’s major initiatives, recent updates, and plans in 2025.
🔹 What is PSPA?
The Punjab Social Protection Authority was established under the Punjab Social Protection Authority Act 2015. It operates with the mission to design, implement, and coordinate social protection programs across the province. The authority focuses on improving human development indicators and ensuring access to basic services like health, education, and financial support.
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🔹 Agosh Program: Digital Payments for Mothers
One of PSPA’s flagship programs in 2025 is the Agosh Program, which provides financial support to pregnant and lactating women in selected districts. The aim is to reduce maternal and child mortality and encourage healthy behaviour during pregnancy.
Key updates in 2025:
- Women can now check their payment status online at payment.pspa.gop.pk using their CNIC number.
- Payments are made through digital wallets and banking agents, ensuring quick, secure, and transparent transfers.
- PSPA is collaborating with health departments to link Agosh payments with antenatal and postnatal care visits.
🔹 PHCIP: Human Capital Investment Continues
The Punjab Human Capital Investment Project (PHCIP), funded by the World Bank, remains one of PSPA’s most significant interventions in 2025. It targets 13 low-performing districts in Punjab, focusing on health, education, and social protection.
PHCIP provides:
- The program offers conditional cash transfers to incentivise school attendance.
- Low-income households can enrol in health insurance.
- The program also includes awareness campaigns focused on nutrition, hygiene, and early childhood care.
By mid-2025, over 500,000 households will have benefited from PHCIP. We expect the program to continue until 2026, with plans to expand its reach and incorporate more districts.
🔹 PSPA Helpline 1221 – Now More Powerful
To make social services accessible to all, PSPA has upgraded its helpline 1221. Citizens can now:
- Check eligibility for different programs.
- Register complaints or ask questions.
- Get directions to the nearest PSPA service center.
The helpline is staffed by trained agents who speak Urdu and regional languages, making it easy for people from rural and urban areas to access support.
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🔹 Social Protection Policy and Reforms
The Punjab Social Protection Policy which remains active in 2025, guides PSPA’s work. This policy sets out clear goals for poverty reduction, gender inclusion, disability rights, and child protection.
New reforms introduced this year include:
- The policy has increased the cash transfer amounts to keep pace with inflation.
- All social protection programs now include transgender individuals.
- Orphans and vulnerable children living in informal settlements receive a special allowance.
🔹 Biometric and Digital Systems Expansion
To reduce fraud and increase efficiency, PSPA has expanded the use of biometric verification. In 2025:
- All payments are linked to NADRA-verified CNICs.
- Beneficiaries must verify their identity using fingerprints or facial recognition at payment points.
- Lahore and Multan are testing the use of QR code-based smart cards for faster disbursement.
🔹 Transparency and Accountability Measures
PSPA has partnered with independent monitoring organisations and civil society to ensure accountability. In 2025:
- Live dashboards track fund disbursement in real time.
- Monthly audits of cash transfer agents are conducted.
- Beneficiaries can rate service quality through SMS feedback surveys.
🔚 Conclusion
The Punjab Social Protection Authority has taken bold and forward-thinking steps in 2025 to reach more people, modernize service delivery, and ensure that help goes only to those who truly need it. Through its Agosh, PHCIP, and other social safety programs, PSPA is playing a vital role in building a more inclusive and resilient Punjab.
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