NSER - National Socio-Economic Registry

Pakistan’s National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) is an e-government information system that electronically facilitates registration into social assistance programmes in Pakistan. It therefore performs a Social Registry function and contains data on household socioeconomic characteristics for more than 25 million households (>85% of the population).

The registry was initially created through a nationwide poverty scorecard survey conducted in 2011, to support Proxy Means Test targeting for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP, a nationwide cash transfer scheme). The data collection was managed by BISP, with the support of other independent institutions including the Pakistan Census Organisation. The NSER dataset is now being hosted by the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), also responsible for issuing biometric national ID cards (known as CNICs). The database has achieved over 85 per cent coverage through robust outreach efforts. It has established linkages with the country’s national ID system and is used by other national and provincial programmes, which have helped to reduce duplication and to strengthen authentication functions for payments. Most recently, it has also played an important role in the COVID-19 response.