Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the expansion of the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card Programme, with an additional Rs43.2 billion allocation for the 2026-27 financial year.
According to an official statement, the provincial government has already distributed Rs28 billion among 1.2 million registered workers under the scheme, while the number of registered workers has reached a record 1,403,063.
So far, 1,244,130 workers have received Maryam Nawaz Ration Cards, with the printing of another 4,984 cards currently in progress.
Under the programme, registered workers receive essential commodities worth Rs3,000 per month through a network of 62,000 shops across Punjab.
The chief minister also approved the continuation and expansion of the ration card scheme for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with more than 100,000 workers associated with the Suthra Punjab Programme also benefiting from the initiative.
Chairing a review meeting, Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to further increase the number of registered workers and expand the programme’s reach, reiterating that ensuring the financial protection of every labourer and worker remains her government’s responsibility.
Labour Minister Manshaullah Butt and Labour Secretary Danish Afzal briefed the chief minister on the progress and future expansion of the programme.
Punjab to launch Aitchison-standard schools
The Punjab government recently announced plans to open a new network of public schools based on the standards of Aitchison College.
According to the proposal, the schools will provide quality education and modern facilities to students in the province.
They will also focus on good academic performance, character building, leadership skills, discipline and extracurricular activities for the students.
The new schools will also have modern classrooms, science labs, computer labs, libraries and sports facilities.
According to the details, the government also plans to hire highly qualified teachers. Admissions will be based on merit too.
Officials said that the schools will be opened in different parts of Punjab in phases. The purpose of the project is to give students from all backgrounds a chance to receive a high quality education.
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