This report presents findings from the quantitative and qualitative research conducted for the first follow-up round of the independent impact evaluation of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Its purpose is to provide an analysis of impact of the BISP in the 2 years since the baseline study was conducted. The BISP was launched in 2008 as the Government of Pakistan’s main national social safety net programme and is the largest and most systematic social protection initiative ever launched in the country. The immediate objective of the programme was to cushion the negative effects of the food, fuel and financial crises on the poor, but its longer term objectives are to provide a minimum income package to the poor to protect the vulnerable population against chronic and transient poverty. The impact evaluation has both a quantitative and qualitative component and will be conducted over four rounds: baseline, two midline rounds and an endline. The research presented in this report reflects the combined findings of the baseline and the first midline rounds of research, which were undertaken in April – July 2011 and April – July 2013 respectively.