The Punjab government has allocated Rs47 billion for the Ramazan nigehban package which will be given to deserving families this Ramazan.
The decision was made at a meeting that was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The purpose of the meeting was reviewing the preparations for Ramazan and providing assistance to the public across the province.
Under the package, 4.2 million deserving families will receive Rs10,000 each in the month of Ramazan. More than two million beneficiaries will be provided Nigehban Cards which will allow them to receive cash assistance and purchase essential commodities.
The cards will also enable the beneficiaries to withdraw cash through branchless banking agents and ATMs. To ensure smooth implementation, 136 card activation centres would be set up across the province of Punjab and a Ramazan Nigehban Dashboard for monitoring and verification.
Ration Card holders will also receive Rs10,000 during Ramazan instead of Rs3,000 that they get every month.
The Chief Minister directed officials to make payments through Nigehban Card simple and accessible including option of payment for free home delivery services. She also ordered stalls by flour mills, poultry, grocery and ghee mill associations at Sasta Ramazan and Sahulat Bazaars.
The meeting approved setting up of eight “Nigehban Dastarkhwan – Maryam Kay Mehman” in each tehsil, in which a large number of fasting people (up to 2000) will be provided daily iftar. Commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners would monitor the initiative, and Punjab Food Authority will monitor food quality.
65 Sahulat Bazaars will be functioning in 30 districts with permanent, mobile and temporary Ramazan Bazaars establishing presence in other districts. A provincial monitoring room with 1,250 cameras will monitor pricing, cleanliness and security. The chief minister was also involved in directing canals desilting and showed concern over the cleanliness status in Sargodha.
Also read: Did Punjab announce revised school timings for Ramadan 2026?
