Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has approved Rs10,000 relief for families this Ramzan.
Under the Ration Card and Ramzan Nigehban Card scheme, eligible households will receive Rs10,000 this Ramzan, along with Rs3,000 subsidy as a monthly support.
What is the Ramzan Nigehban Card?
The scheme allows beneficiaries to receive cash assistance and purchase essential items from designated vendors.
District administrations will distribute the cards door to door, while 136 activation centres have been set up across Punjab.
Cardholders can also activate their cards at Bank of Punjab ATMs and withdraw cash through branchless banking agents or the One Link network.
How will public support be provided?
In addition to cash support, eight “Nigehban Dastarkhwan named as Maryam ke Mehman” will operate in every tehsil, serving iftar to up to 2,000 fasting individuals daily.
Officials from the Punjab Food Authority, along with commissioners, deputy commissioners, and assistant commissioners, will monitor the arrangements.
The menu will include dates, samosas, milk, Rooh Afza, bananas, and chicken biryani.
Sasta Bazaars and price control measures
During Ramzan, 65 Sasta Bazaars will function in 30 districts, along with permanent and mobile bazaars. Temporary Ramzan bazaars will also be set up in 11 districts.
The CM instructed further price reductions and directed flour mills, chicken suppliers, grocery merchants, and ghee mill associations to establish stalls to make essentials more accessible.
Monitoring and public service
A dedicated Ramzan Nigehban dashboard has been established to track distribution, along with a counter-checking system via phone calls to beneficiaries.
Maryam Nawaz emphasised that the process should be simple and convenient, ensuring that no deserving family is left out.
Officials say the measures aim to provide timely assistance, reduce hurdles in accessing relief, and maintain transparency. The expanded cash support, along with food and price control initiatives, is expected to benefit thousands of families across Punjab during Ramzan.
Also read: Govt to unveil ‘Ramadan Relief Package 2026’
