PM unveils Rs38b Ramazan Package 2026 as cashless relief expands nationwide

• Says old ration-based model scrapped to protect dignity of beneficiaries, noting third-party audit declares last year’s distribution transparent, corruption-free

• Rs38b package to assist nearly 36m people of 12m households with each deserving family to get Rs13,000 across country, including GB, AJK

• State Bank framework, helpline 9999, app launched to ensure smooth delivery

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday formally unveiled the “Ramazan Package 2026” worth Rs38 billion, announcing that the relief initiative would be implemented with renewed commitment and improved mechanisms to benefit more than 12 million families, with each deserving household receiving an enhanced amount of Rs13,000 through digital payments.

Addressing a ceremony broadcast live on national television, the prime minister said that, drawing on lessons from previous years, a total of Rs38 billion would be distributed through digital wallets and banking channels across all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. He acknowledged the scale and complexity of the initiative, terming it a major administrative and technological undertaking.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif launches the PM Ramzan Package, 2026. pic.twitter.com/lzO5bfC3nV

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 14, 2026

The prime minister said the government had abolished the old distribution system last year, under which substandard items were provided and beneficiaries were forced to wait in long queues, often at the cost of their dignity and self-respect. He said the shift to a cashless digital system ensured direct cash transfers to deserving families.

He added that a third-party audit of the Rs20 billion allocated for last year’s relief package had found the distribution process to be highly transparent and free from corruption, reinforcing confidence in the new mechanism.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the launching ceremony of the PM Ramzan Package, 2026. pic.twitter.com/EFXvcOUfNl

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 14, 2026

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said that an increased amount of Rs13,000 would be provided to each deserving family, while Rs10 billion had also been allocated for those already benefiting from the system. He said the adoption of digital banking and a cashless economy had not only improved transparency but also saved public time and preserved beneficiaries’ dignity.

Secretary Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Aamer Ali Ahmad termed the initiative a historic relief package, saying it reflected compassion and empathy in line with the spirit of the holy month of Ramazan. He said the per-family assistance had been enhanced from Rs5,000 to Rs13,000 on the instructions of the prime minister.

وزیراعظم کا رمضان المبارک کے حوالے سے خصوصی پیکیج کا اعلان

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے رمضان المبارک 2026 کے بابرکت موقع پر خصوصی ریلیف پیکج کا اعلان کرتے ہوئے مستحق خاندانوں کو بلا تفریق فی خاندان 13 ہزار روپے فراہم کرنے کی ہدایت کی ہے۔ امدادی رقوم ڈیجیٹل والٹس اور بینک اکاؤنٹس… pic.twitter.com/I1DXsDQMJ7

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 14, 2026

He further said that the Rs38 billion package would benefit over 12 million families, assisting nearly 36 million people nationwide. He added that the State Bank of Pakistan had issued a comprehensive framework for the distribution process, while a helpline (9999), mobile app, and online portal had also been launched to facilitate and support beneficiaries.