Islamabad : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a landmark Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package on Saturday, aimed at supporting 12.1 million deserving families across Pakistan, including the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The announcement was made during the launch ceremony of the PM Ramazan Package 2026, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable families through a transparent digital disbursement system.
Under the package, each eligible family will receive Rs13,000 via digital bank accounts or wallets, ensuring that assistance is provided efficiently, securely, and without any discrimination based on political affiliation or personal views. Of the total Rs38 billion, Rs10 billion is allocated for families already registered with the government’s Kafalat programme, while Rs28 billion will support families not benefiting from other sponsorship programs. This represents a substantial increase from last year’s Rs5,000 per family allocation, reflecting the government’s determination to alleviate hardship during Ramazan.
PM Shehbaz Announces Rs38bn Ramazan Relief for 12.1 Million Families
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the challenges of previous Ramazan initiatives, particularly the substandard food items, long queues, and inefficiencies at utility stores that compromised the dignity of the recipients. “It was a painful sight. Last year, we ended that practice and introduced a digital system to ensure cash transfers directly reach the deserving families,” he said. The new initiative is designed to replace corrupt and cumbersome processes with a modern, accountable, and cashless system.
The prime minister acknowledged the challenges of implementing a nationwide digital cash transfer program, including the readiness of banks to participate, the underdeveloped cashless economy in Pakistan, and the operational hurdles faced by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). “This year, the same experiment is being repeated with better performance and KPIs (key performance indicators),” he added, highlighting efforts to ensure efficiency and transparency in disbursement.
Shehbaz Sharif also assured a periodical review of the program’s progress to address potential bottlenecks and guarantee that all deserving families receive timely assistance. He thanked international partners for their support, noting that their contribution and interest were crucial in making the Ramazan Package a success. “Together we will achieve this landmark initiative,” he said.
The package is designed to reach families through digital bank transfers or mobile wallets, removing the need for long queues and allowing beneficiaries to use the funds with dignity. The State Bank of Pakistan has issued a framework for the payment system, ensuring that the disbursement is transparent, speedy, and secure. According to government officials, this represents the largest federal-level effort for Ramazan relief in terms of both volume and operational challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted that the digital system will allow the government to monitor the disbursement process in real-time, track the beneficiaries, and ensure compliance with KPIs. This approach marks a significant shift from previous practices that often faced criticism for inefficiency and corruption. By leveraging technology and digital banking, the government aims to ensure that financial aid reaches those most in need without leakage or delay.
The announcement also corrected earlier misinformation regarding the number of beneficiary families. Initially, reports suggested that 1.2 million families would benefit from the package. However, the correct figure is 12.1 million families, demonstrating the scale and ambition of the initiative. The correction underscores the government’s focus on accuracy, accountability, and transparency in public communication.
Experts have lauded the PM Ramazan Package 2026 as a major step toward strengthening social welfare systems in Pakistan, noting that the combination of digital technology and financial inclusion can improve governance and minimize leakages in aid distribution. By prioritizing equity, transparency, and efficiency, the program sets a benchmark for future federal initiatives targeting poverty alleviation.
The Rs38 billion package represents a significant commitment from the federal government to ensure that deserving families across all regions have access to much-needed financial support during Ramazan. With Rs13,000 per family, the initiative not only helps meet essential needs such as food and utilities but also provides economic relief to millions who are struggling amid rising inflation.
As the disbursement begins, officials expect the digital system to minimize delays and ensure equitable distribution across provinces, G-B, and AJK. The initiative also strengthens the government’s broader digital financial infrastructure, promoting financial inclusion and empowering families to make independent spending choices.
PM Shehbaz’s announcement has been widely welcomed across Pakistan, reflecting the public’s recognition of the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities while embracing technology to modernize welfare programs. By combining scale, transparency, and technology, the PM Ramazan Package 2026 sets a high standard for social support initiatives, ensuring that millions of families can observe Ramazan with dignity and economic relief.