Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved an additional Rs43.2 billion for the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card Programme, expanding financial support for registered workers across the province.
According to an official statement issued on Monday, the provincial government has already distributed Rs28 billion under the initiative to 1.2 million registered workers, while the programme continues to grow.
More Than 1.4 Million Workers Registered
The statement said the number of registered workers in Punjab has reached 1,403,063.
Of these, 1,244,130 workers have already received their ration cards, while printing is under way for another 4,984 cards to facilitate additional beneficiaries.
Under the programme, registered workers receive essential food items worth Rs3,000 per month through a network of approximately 62,000 registered shops operating across Punjab.
Programme Approved for FY2026-27
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also approved the continuation of the ration card scheme for the 2026–27 financial year, reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to supporting low-income workers.
The initiative also covers more than 100,000 workers employed under the Suthra Punjab Programme, extending subsidised access to essential household commodities.
CM Directs Expansion of Worker Registration
During a review meeting on the programme, the chief minister instructed officials to further increase worker registration so that more eligible labourers could benefit from the scheme.
She said ensuring the financial well-being of labourers and workers remained a priority for her government and stressed the importance of expanding social protection measures for low-income families across Punjab.
The Maryam Nawaz Ration Card Programme is one of the Punjab government’s flagship welfare initiatives aimed at providing monthly assistance to registered workers through subsidised essential commodities.
