LAHORE: More than 1.1 million people have registered within 10 days for the Punjab government’s new relief initiative, ‘Maryam Ko Batain’ (MKB), aimed at providing direct financial assistance to deserving families not included in the initial list of four million beneficiaries.
According to Chairperson 1000 Helpline and Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell Saima Farooq, thousands of eligible citizens have already received Rs10,000 directly into their JazzCash mobile wallets against their CNICs after due scrutiny and wealth profiling.
Of the total registrations, 910,000 were completed through the mobile application available on the Play Store under the name “Maryam Ko Batain”, 140,000 via the dedicated helpline 1000, and 50,000 through the official web portal. On average, more than 100,000 individuals are registering daily.
The helpline received an unprecedented response, recording up to 1.8 million call attempts in a single hour. Officials noted that the Punjab government’s call centre can handle 800 calls simultaneously, while additional callers may receive a busy tone due to telecom capacity constraints.
The initiative offers three registration channels — mobile app, web portal and helpline — to ensure accessibility for both urban and rural populations. Each applicant is issued a tracking ID, and beneficiaries are informed through robo-calls, SMS alerts and verification calls. Upon confirmation from JazzCash regarding the Rs10,000 transfer, recipients can collect the amount by presenting the message and their original CNIC to a JazzCash representative.
Officials stated that the programme ensures transparency, tracking and accountability through PSER data and PMT scoring, with direct cash transfers made without intermediaries. Digital verification mechanisms are in place to prevent fraud and duplicate registrations.
Individuals already benefiting from Ramazan Nigehban, Rashan Card, Benazir Income Support Programme, or Prime Minister’s Ramazan Relief Programme are not eligible for assistance under “Maryam Ko Batain”.
The Ramazan Relief Measures 2026, officials said, reflect the Punjab government’s commitment to providing economic protection to vulnerable families. Every application under the scheme is being processed through a transparent and systematic mechanism to ensure relief is delivered with dignity and accountability.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, in her message on the World Civil Defence Day, underscored the vital role of civil defence in equipping citizens to respond effectively to natural disasters and unforeseen calamities.
She stated that civil defence training enables people to voluntarily help themselves and others during emergencies, while also focusing on precautionary measures to mitigate risks in advance. The chief minister noted that the civil defence organisation remains active at all times to assist the public, adding that protecting citizens from earthquakes, floods and other disasters is its fundamental objective.
Paying tribute to those who render services during accidents and natural disasters, she said the purpose of observing the World Civil Defence Day is to highlight the importance of civil defence among the public. She remarked that its supportive role in safeguarding life and property is crucial in both peace and wartime situations.
Maryam Nawaz said that a strong civil defence system can significantly reduce the intensity and impact of natural disasters and unforeseen incidents. She called for greater public awareness and stressed that the revival and strengthening of the institution is the need of the hour.
In a separate message posted on X, the chief minister directed the police and district administration to understand the sentiments of protesters and treat them with dignity and respect.
She said arrangements were being made for Iftar for protesters, acknowledging that many citizens were grieving. “Every Muslim is grieved and tearful at this time but maintaining peace and order in the country and in our cities is a collective responsibility,” she stated, urging all stakeholders to uphold law and order. “In this hour of grief, we stand united,” she added.
