ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs38 billion Ramadan relief initiative for 2026, significantly expanding financial assistance for low-income families across the country.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Islamabad, the prime minister said the new package would support more than 12 million families through a streamlined digital payment system. The assistance per household has been raised to Rs13,000 more than double the Rs5,000 provided under last year’s programme.
He noted that the previous commodity-based distribution system had been scrapped due to concerns about inefficiency, long queues, and the poor quality of goods supplied. In its place, the government introduced direct digital transfers to ensure transparency, convenience, and dignity for beneficiaries.
According to the prime minister, an independent audit of last year’s Rs20 billion relief programme confirmed that the digital mechanism operated transparently and without irregularities. Building on that experience, the government has further refined the system to ensure smoother disbursement this year.
The funds will be distributed via digital wallets and banking channels throughout Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Officials described the nationwide rollout as one of the largest coordinated digital cash assistance efforts undertaken by the government.
Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said, in addition to the Rs13,000 per eligible family, Rs10 billion has been earmarked for individuals already registered under existing welfare frameworks.
Secretary of the Benazir Income Support Programme, Aamer Ali Ahmad, termed the initiative a landmark step in social protection during Ramadan. He highlighted that the enhanced support was introduced on the prime minister’s directive to better assist vulnerable households amid economic challenges.
Authorities also confirmed that the State Bank of Pakistan has issued a regulatory framework to oversee the distribution process. To facilitate beneficiaries, a dedicated helpline (9999), along with a mobile application and online portal, has been launched.
The government estimates that the package will ultimately assist around 36 million individuals nationwide, reinforcing its commitment to targeted and transparent welfare delivery during the holy month.
