ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday formally launched the Ramazan Package 2026 worth Rs38 billion, aimed at supporting more than 12 million families across the country through digital payment mechanisms.
Addressing a ceremony in the federal capital, the prime minister said the government had replaced the traditional distribution system with a cashless model last year after complaints about poor-quality goods and long queues that affected the dignity of beneficiaries.
He said direct financial assistance was provided to deserving families through digital wallets under the new system, adding that a third-party audit of the previous year’s Rs20 billion package found the distribution process transparent and free from corruption.
Building on that experience, the prime minister announced that each eligible family would receive Rs13,000 this year, an increase from the previous amount. He added that the funds would be disbursed through digital banking channels across all four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said the enhanced financial assistance would help low-income households cope with rising expenses during the holy month, while also promoting financial inclusion through digital transactions.
Secretary of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Aamer Ali Ahmad described the initiative as a historic relief effort aligned with the spirit of Ramazan. He said the package would benefit more than 12 million families, covering approximately 36 million individuals nationwide.
He added that the State Bank of Pakistan had issued a framework for the distribution, while a helpline (9999), mobile application and online portal had been introduced to facilitate beneficiaries.