ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Saturday announced PM Ramazan Package 2026 worth Rs38 billion, which would benefit more than 12 million families through digital payments.
He said that on the basis of previous year’s experiences. the package would be distributed with new commitment and now each deserving family would get an enhanced amount of Rs13,000. He said an amount of Rs38 billion would be distributed through wallets and digital banking in all the four provinces, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan involving huge efforts in terms of volume and challenge.
He said the government got rid of the old distribution system last year as the stuff provided to the deserving families under the system was of low quality and people used to wait in queues, which was against their self-respect. With the introduction of digital system, direct cash payments were made to the deserving families under a new cashless digital system last year, he said, adding a third-party audit of Rs20 billion allocated for the relief package previous year for the deserving, found the distribution mechanism highly transparent and free from corruption.
Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Imran Ahmad Shah, speaking on the occasion, said an increased amount of Rs13,000 would be provided to each deserving family while Rs10 billion had also been allocated for those who had already benefitted from the system. The digital banking and cashless economy not only enhanced transparency but also saved public time and their dignity, he added.
Secretary Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Aamer Ali Ahmad said that it would be a historic relief package as the government would implement a comprehensive relief package based upon compassion and empathy in line with the spirit of the holy month. He stated that previous package amount of Rs5,000 per family was now enhanced to Rs13,000 per family on the instruction of the prime minister. A total amount of Rs38 billion had been earmarked for the relief package benefitting more than 12 million families and assisting about 36 million people, he added.
He said the State Bank of Pakistan had also issued a framework for distribution of the package. He said helpline 9999, mobile app and portal had also been introduced for support.
