The Punjab government has approved a Rs. 47 billion Ramadan relief package for low-income families, under which 4.2 million households will receive direct financial assistance through Nigehban Cards.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to review Ramadan preparations and public relief measures across the province.
Under the package, Rs. 10,000 each will be provided to 42 lakh deserving families, benefiting nearly one crore people. The assistance will be delivered through the Ramadan Nigehban Card.
The chief minister approved the CM Rashan Card, Nigehban Dastarkhwan, Sasta Bazaars and related administrative arrangements as part of the broader Ramadan relief plan.
Officials said beneficiaries will not be required to visit government offices to receive assistance. District administrations will distribute Nigehban Cards by going door to door in their respective areas.
Cardholders will be able to withdraw cash through Bank of Punjab branchless banking agents as well as through One Link network ATMs. Purchases can also be made from designated Bank of Punjab merchant outlets using the Nigehban Card. For card activation, 136 activation centres will be established across Punjab.
Cards can also be activated through Bank of Punjab ATMs.
Separately, ration card holders across Punjab will receive Rs. 10,000 during Ramadan instead of the earlier monthly amount of Rs. 3,000.
As part of the Ramadan food initiative, eight Nigehban Dastarkhwan titled “Maryam Ke Mehman” will be set up in every tehsil. Each Dastarkhwan will provide iftar to 2,000 fasting individuals daily.
Commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners have been directed to personally monitor the arrangements. The iftar menu will include dates, samosas, milk, Rooh Afza, bananas and chicken biryani.
65 Sasta Bazaars will be operational in 30 districts, along with 50 permanent Sasta Bazaars and 15 Sasta on the Go outlets. Temporary Ramadan Sasta Bazaars will be set up in the remaining 11 districts.
The chief minister has directed the immediate identification of land for Sasta Bazaars in 60 tehsils. A provincial monitoring room equipped with 1,250 cameras will oversee pricing, cleanliness, security and other operational matters.
On the chief minister’s instructions, dedicated stalls of flour mills, chicken suppliers, grocery traders and ghee mills associations will also be established at Sasta Bazaars to ensure uninterrupted supply.