Ehsaas Aghosh Programme 2026 — Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Rs 38,000, Districts & Registration
This is not an official Punjab government website. This guide is independent, general information about the Ehsaas Aghosh programme. For official information, always contact the Social Protection Helpline on 1221 or visit your nearest Basic Health Unit.
What Is the Ehsaas Aghosh Programme?
The Ehsaas Aghosh programme — also written Aaghosh — is a Punjab government maternal and child health scheme that pays pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and mothers of children under two years old up to Rs 38,000 in stages, in return for completing health checkups, a safe delivery, and the baby’s vaccinations. It is run by the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) under the Punjab Human Capital Investment Project (PHCIP), with support from the World Bank. It covers only 13 districts of Punjab, and registration happens at a government health centre, not online.
The Ehsaas Aghosh programme is not the same as the federal Ehsaas Nashonuma programme, although the two are often confused. Nashonuma is a federal BISP programme that gives nutrition support to pregnant and breastfeeding women and to children under two across the country. Aghosh is a Punjab programme, run by PSPA, limited to 13 districts, and paid in stages against health milestones — clinic visits, a safe delivery, vaccinations, and birth registration.
If you live in one of the 13 districts, Aghosh is the programme for you. If you live elsewhere in Punjab, or in another province, Nashonuma may be the one that covers you instead. Read our guide to the Benazir Nashonuma programme to see which one applies to your district.
The idea behind the Ehsaas Aghosh programme is simple: poor families often skip antenatal checkups, deliver at home without a skilled attendant, and miss their children’s vaccinations, because each visit costs money and time. Aghosh pays the mother a small amount at each step, so that the cost of going to the clinic is covered and the visit actually happens. The money is conditional — it is paid when the health activity is completed and recorded — and the total of up to Rs 38,000 is spread across the pregnancy and the child’s first two years, not paid as a single lump sum.
Example — the checkups that finally happened: A pregnant woman in Muzaffargarh has never been to a clinic, because the visit costs money she does not have. A Lady Health Visitor tells her about the Ehsaas Aghosh programme, registers her at the Basic Health Unit, and explains that each checkup earns a payment. She attends four antenatal visits, delivers at the health facility, and brings her baby for vaccinations on schedule — and receives the staged payments as she goes. The money did not make her rich, but it removed the reason she had been staying away from the clinic.
Example — the family outside the districts: A pregnant woman in Faisalabad hears about Aghosh from a relative and travels to a health centre to register, only to be told her district is not covered. The Ehsaas Aghosh programme covers only 13 districts, and Faisalabad is not one of them. She has wasted a journey. Before travelling, she should have checked the district list — which is printed in this guide — or called the helpline on 1221.
Which Districts Does the Ehsaas Aghosh Programme Cover?
The Ehsaas Aghosh programme covers only these 13 districts of Punjab: Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Khushab, Kot Addu, Layyah, Lodhran, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, and Rajanpur. If you do not live in one of these districts, you cannot register for Aghosh right now, even if you meet every other condition. The programme is limited to these districts because they were selected as the less-developed districts where maternal and child health indicators are weakest.
There is an important timing note. The official project page lists the project period as 2020 to 2026, and as of November 2026 no official announcement of a new phase or extension had been found. That does not mean the programme has ended — it means its published period runs to 2026, and its current status should be confirmed with your health centre or on the helpline 1221 before you travel. Do not assume that a programme whose published period ends in 2026 will still be enrolling in 2027 without checking first.
Who Can Apply for the Ehsaas Aghosh Programme?
You can apply for the Ehsaas Aghosh programme if you meet all of the following conditions. First, you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or the mother of a child under two years old. Second, you hold a valid, unexpired CNIC. Third, you live in one of the 13 districts listed above — and your CNIC should be issued from a district inside Punjab. Fourth, your household is generally expected to be registered in the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) system, which is linked with BISP data — your Lady Health Visitor can confirm this during registration.
There is no BISP card requirement. The programme’s own FAQ says no BISP card is needed, and Aghosh is run by PSPA, not by BISP. That matters, because many women assume they must be BISP beneficiaries to qualify. You do not. What matters is the district, the CNIC, and the pregnancy or the young child. There is also no fee for registration — if anyone asks you to pay to register for Aghosh, that person is committing fraud.
How Much Does the Ehsaas Aghosh Programme Pay?
Eligible mothers can receive up to Rs 38,000 in total, paid in stages as each health milestone is completed and recorded. The first stage is registration itself: Rs 2,000 is paid when the Lady Health Visitor registers you at the Basic Health Unit or Rural Health Centre. Further payments follow each milestone — antenatal checkups, a safe delivery at a health facility, the baby’s vaccinations, and the child’s birth registration, for which one source reports Rs 5,000. The full staged breakdown is published by PHCIP, and the total comes to Rs 38,000.
You may come across other websites quoting a different figure, such as Rs 23,000. That figure does not match the official published figures, and it appears on third-party sites that have not caught up with the revisions. The Rs 38,000 total matches PHCIP’s own published figures as of mid-2026, according to secondary guides that read the official pages. But amounts can change, and since the project’s published period runs to 2026, you should always confirm the current rate with your Lady Health Visitor or by calling the helpline 1221 before you plan around a specific number.
The payments are conditional. You do not receive the money for being registered alone — you receive each stage’s payment when the corresponding health activity is completed and recorded in the programme’s system. If you miss a checkup or a vaccination, that stage’s payment is not made. That is the point of the programme: the money follows the health visit, so the visit happens.
How to Register for the Ehsaas Aghosh Programme — Step by Step
There is no website or app for Ehsaas Aghosh programme registration. Registration happens in person, at a government health facility. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Go to Your Nearest Basic Health Unit or Rural Health Centre
Visit the nearest Basic Health Unit (BHU) or Rural Health Centre (RHC) in your district. Take your original CNIC and your mobile number. You can also register at a THQ or DHQ hospital or a Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic, where the programme operates, but the BHU or RHC is the usual point of contact.
Step 2: Ask for the Lady Health Visitor
Ask for the Lady Health Visitor (LHV). She is the person authorised to enrol you in the Ehsaas Aghosh programme. She will check your eligibility — your pregnancy or your child’s age, your CNIC, and your district — and enter your information into the programme’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) app. Registration is not done at home, and it is not done by an agent.
Step 3: Complete Your Health Visits on Schedule
After registration, attend your antenatal checkups, deliver at a health facility, and bring your baby for vaccinations on the schedule the LHV gives you. Each completed milestone is recorded in the EMR system, and the corresponding payment is released. Keep every slip and record the health centre gives you, and keep your mobile number active, because payment messages come to that number.
Step 4: Check Your Payment Status
After registration, you can check your registration and payment information through the official PSPA payment portal at payment.pspa.gop.pk, using your CNIC. If the portal does not open for you, do not assume the programme has ended — ask your LHV, or call the helpline 1221. The portal’s availability has been inconsistent, according to secondary guides that tried to open it in October 2026.
Ehsaas Aghosh Programme Compared With Nashonuma
The two maternal nutrition programmes are often confused. This table separates them.
| Ehsaas Aghosh programme | Benazir Nashonuma programme | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), under PHCIP | Federal government (BISP) |
| Area | 13 districts of Punjab only | Nationwide, through BISP |
| Who it pays | Pregnant and breastfeeding women, mothers of children under 2 | Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 2 |
| Total amount | Up to Rs 38,000, paid in stages | Nutrition support, amounts set by BISP |
| How to register | At a BHU or RHC, through a Lady Health Visitor | At a Nashonuma centre, usually linked to a health facility |
| Online registration | None — in person only | None — in person at the centre |
If you live in one of the 13 Aghosh districts, Aghosh is the programme to ask about first. If you live elsewhere, Nashonuma is the one to ask about. Either way, do not pay anyone for registration — both programmes are free to join.
Common Problems — and What to Do
Your District Is Not Covered
If you do not live in one of the 13 districts, you cannot register for the Ehsaas Aghosh programme, even if you meet every other condition. Do not travel to a health centre in a covered district and expect to register there — eligibility is tied to where you live. Instead, ask about the Nashonuma programme, which covers a wider area, or ask your own district’s health office what maternal support is available locally.
Someone Offers to Register You for a Fee
Registration for the Ehsaas Aghosh programme is free. The Lady Health Visitor registers you at the health centre, and no agent or middleman is involved. If anyone asks you to pay for registration, for faster payment, or for a guaranteed enrolment, refuse and report it on the helpline 1221.
A Payment Stage Is Delayed
Payments are released when the corresponding health activity is completed and recorded in the EMR system. If a payment is delayed, first check with your Lady Health Visitor whether the visit was actually recorded. A missed entry is the most common cause of a missing payment. Then check your status on the PSPA payment portal at payment.pspa.gop.pk with your CNIC, or call 1221.
You Missed a Checkup or a Vaccination
If you miss a scheduled checkup or vaccination, that stage’s payment is not made, because the payment follows the completed visit. Go to the health centre as soon as you can and ask the LHV whether the visit can still be recorded, or whether you need to wait for the next scheduled visit. Do not pay anyone who offers to mark a missed visit as completed.
The Programme’s Published Period Ends in 2026
The official project page lists the period as 2020 to 2026, and as of November 2026 no extension had been officially announced. If you are reading this in 2027, confirm the programme’s current status with your health centre or on 1221 before travelling. Do not assume it is still enrolling, and do not assume it has ended — check first.
Your Ehsaas Aghosh Programme Checklist
- I live in one of the 13 covered districts of Punjab.
- I am pregnant, breastfeeding, or the mother of a child under two.
- I have a valid, unexpired CNIC.
- I know my nearest Basic Health Unit or Rural Health Centre.
- I have not paid anyone for registration.
- I understand the payments are staged, and each one follows a completed health visit.
- I will keep my mobile number active and keep every slip the health centre gives me.
- I will confirm the current amounts and the programme’s status on 1221 before planning around them.
Common Questions
What is the Ehsaas Aghosh programme?
The Ehsaas Aghosh programme is a Punjab government scheme, run by the Punjab Social Protection Authority under the Punjab Human Capital Investment Project, that pays pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and mothers of children under two up to Rs 38,000 in stages, for clinic visits, a safe delivery, and the baby’s vaccinations. It covers 13 districts of Punjab only.
Which districts are covered by Aghosh?
Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Khushab, Kot Addu, Layyah, Lodhran, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, and Rajanpur. If you do not live in one of these districts, you cannot register for Aghosh right now.
How much money does Aghosh pay?
Up to Rs 38,000 in total, paid in stages as each health milestone is completed — starting with Rs 2,000 at registration. Some websites quote Rs 23,000, but that figure does not match the official published figures. Confirm the current rate with your Lady Health Visitor or on 1221, because amounts can change.
How do I register for the Ehsaas Aghosh programme?
There is no online form. Visit your nearest Basic Health Unit or Rural Health Centre in a covered district, ask for the Lady Health Visitor, and she will register you in the programme’s Electronic Medical Record system. Take your original CNIC. Registration is free.
Do I need a BISP card for Aghosh?
No. The programme’s own FAQ says no BISP card is needed, and Aghosh is run by PSPA, not by BISP. What matters is the district, a valid CNIC, and being pregnant, breastfeeding, or the mother of a child under two.
Is there a fee for Aghosh registration?
No. Registration is free, and no agent is authorised to charge you for it. If anyone asks for money, refuse and report it on the helpline 1221.
How do I check my Aghosh payment status?
Through the official PSPA payment portal at payment.pspa.gop.pk, using your CNIC, or by asking your Lady Health Visitor, or by calling the helpline 1221. The portal’s availability has been inconsistent, so the helpline is the most reliable fallback.
Is Aghosh still running in 2026?
The official project page lists the period as 2020 to 2026, and as of November 2026 no official announcement of an extension had been found. Confirm the current status with your health centre or on 1221 before travelling, especially if you are reading this in 2027.
Conclusion
The Ehsaas Aghosh programme is a simple idea with a clear payoff: go to the clinic, get checked, deliver safely, vaccinate your baby, and receive up to Rs 38,000 in stages as you go. It covers 13 districts of Punjab, it is run by PSPA through Lady Health Visitors at Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centres, and registration is free and in person — there is no online form, and no agent can register you.
Check the district list first, take your CNIC to the nearest health centre, and keep every slip. And because the programme’s published period runs to 2026, confirm its current status on 1221 before you plan around it. For mothers in the covered districts, Aghosh is the most direct help available for the cost of pregnancy and a baby’s first two years. For your next step, read our guide to the Benazir Nashonuma programme, which covers mothers outside the 13 districts, and to the NADRA birth certificate, which your baby will need for the birth registration stage.
