The National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s social protection system, designed to identify and support vulnerable families across the country. Since its establishment in 2010, the registry has grown significantly—from covering 25.5 million families to 40 million by 2025—marking a major step forward in inclusive data collection. It underpins numerous government programs, including income support, disaster relief, mother and child nutrition, and education stipends. Despite its wide reach, with 84 percent of the population registered, approximately 2.2 million households from the bottom 40 percent remain excluded, indicating the need for stronger outreach and targeted policy interventions to ensure that no vulnerable family is left behind.
Initially developed for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), the NSER has evolved into a comprehensive system supporting a range of social protection and disaster response initiatives. Its data has been crucial in reaching households during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and floods. However, exclusion from the NSER means households lose access to critical social assistance, heightening their vulnerability. As Pakistan transitions from broad-based subsidies to targeted transfers, ensuring that the NSER captures the poorest families has become more important than ever.
The World Bank’s report, “Mind the Gap”, provides the first independent analysis of the NSER’s completeness and inclusivity. Conducted in collaboration with BISP, it combines a nationally representative survey of 59,456 households with administrative data to evaluate the registry’s effectiveness. The report finds that while Pakistan’s NSER coverage far exceeds the global average of 41 percent, gaps remain, particularly among poor and remote households. It highlights the registry’s vital role in enabling targeted social protection and facilitating rapid disaster response, such as during the 2022 floods.
Challenges to inclusion are multifaceted. Many unregistered households are unaware of how to register, while others face logistical and financial barriers. Nearly half of excluded families reported lacking information about the registration process, and only a quarter knew how to contact BISP offices. Geographical disparities are also evident—households in Balochistan are more than twice as likely to be excluded compared to those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since 2021, NSER has relied on Dynamic Registration Centers instead of door-to-door surveys, which allows for real-time data updates but also limits access for families in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
To improve inclusion, the report recommends integrating dynamic registration with door-to-door data collection, especially in rural and marginalized regions. Enhanced outreach campaigns and mobile registration units could further close the gaps by raising awareness and reducing the travel burden for vulnerable households. In response, BISP has begun deploying mobile vans to low-registration areas like Balochistan and plans to expand registration centers to the Union Council level. Regular data reviews and digital monitoring tools are also being introduced to improve data quality and reduce inaccuracies.
Strengthening the NSER’s coverage and accuracy will enhance Pakistan’s ability to deliver timely, adaptive social protection and ensure that the most vulnerable can withstand future shocks. The “Mind the Gap” report underscores that inclusive data systems are central to effective governance and equitable development. By prioritizing remote communities, improving data reliability, and promoting inter-agency collaboration, Pakistan can move closer to ensuring that every household has access to the support it needs to thrive.
