The Punjab government has introduced the ‘Himmat Card’ to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing them with ATM cards.
To formalize this initiative, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Social Welfare and the Bank of Punjab, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in attendance at the signing ceremony.
As per the details, the Bank of Punjab will issue ATM cards to 65,000 individuals with disabilities across the province. Through the Himmat Card, each recipient will receive Rs 10,500 every quarter. In the first phase, 40,000 individuals will receive their Himmat Cards, followed by 25,000 more in the second phase. The disbursement of funds through the Himmat Card will commence by September 15th.
During the event, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the state must care for vulnerable individuals, including those with disabilities, and support the less fortunate in society.
What is the Himmat Card?
The Himmat Card is a comprehensive service package provided by the government to PWDs. Currently, the government has announced a quarterly stipend of Rs. 7,500 for eligible PWDs. Any additional services introduced by the government for PWDs will also be accessible through the Himmat Card.
Eligibility Criteria for the Himmat Card:
- The PWD must be certified by Social Welfare Punjab.
- The PWD should be deemed NOT FIT TO WORK.
- The PWD must not be employed in either government or private sectors.
- The PWD should not have recently received any grants from Bait ul Maal, Zakat Fund, PSPA, BISP, etc.
- The PMT score issued by BISP should not exceed 37.
- The PWD’s basic information, such as CNIC, address, mobile number, education, and experience, must be updated in the DPMIS system.
