By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a record 38 billion rupees Ramazan Relief Package 2026, increasing financial assistance from 5,000 to 13,000 rupees per beneficiary. The nationwide scheme aims to support vulnerable families through a fully digital and transparent payment system during the holy month.
Launching the package at a review meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, the prime minister described it as the largest and most comprehensive Ramazan relief initiative in Pakistan’s history. He said funds were being transferred directly into beneficiaries’ digital wallets, ensuring transparency, convenience, and dignity by eliminating the need for long queues.
Officials reported that by the eighth day of Ramazan, 64 per cent of eligible beneficiaries had already received their payments, with the remaining distribution continuing at pace. The package covers the entire country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, marking what officials called a significant step towards a data-driven financial support system. Real-time dashboards are being used to monitor disbursement and maintain oversight.
Twelve banks and financial technology firms are partnering with the government to manage the process, facilitating more than 1.1 million digital transactions so far. Automated robo-calls and over 1.2 million awareness messages have been sent to inform beneficiaries about accessing funds through digital wallets.
Alongside direct cash transfers, the government has launched an extensive awareness campaign across print, electronic, and social media platforms. Sharif said the shift to digital payments has strengthened transparency and reduced delays or errors in the distribution process.
He described the Ramazan Relief Package 2026 as a clear reflection of the government’s commitment to supporting low-income households and ensuring timely assistance during Ramazan, urging all institutions involved to maintain efficiency so that every eligible family receives its due support.
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