# CM Punjab Minority Card: Rs 10,500 a quarter, who qualifies and how verification works URL: https://which.pk/money/guides/cm-punjab-minority-card/ Author: Ahtisham Updated: 24 Oct 2026 ## Summary The CM Punjab Minority Card pays Rs 10,500 every three months, Rs 42,000 a year, to poor non-Muslim families in Punjab such as Christian, Hindu and Sikh households, by Bank of Punjab card or bank transfer. Families need a PMT poverty score of 45 or below. The quota was raised from 50,000 to 75,000 cards in May 2025, and the card cost Rs 3 billion in 2025-26. Deputy commissioners oversee verification and send lists to the Bank of Punjab. We found no open registration window as of 24 October 2026. ## Key facts - Payment: Rs 10,500 every 3 months - PMT limit: 45 or below - Card quota: 75,000 (May 2025) - Paid by: Bank of Punjab The **CM Punjab Minority Card** pays **Rs 10,500 every three months** (Rs 42,000 a year) to poor non-Muslim families in Punjab, such as Christian, Hindu and Sikh households. You qualify if your family's **PMT poverty score is 45 or below**. The money comes by Bank of Punjab card or bank transfer. The quota is **75,000 cards** (May 2025), and as of 24 October 2026 we found no open registration window. ## Who is eligible for the CM Punjab Minority Card? Poor families from Punjab's religious minorities. Dawn reported in March 2025 that families with a **PMT score of 45 or below** qualify. PMT is the poverty score from the government's household survey. The cards are for the family, not each person. Punjab's minorities minister, Ramesh Singh Arora, said in December 2024 that women should be included on an equal footing. ## How much does the Minority Card pay, and when? **Rs 10,500 every three months.** The minister announced the amount in October 2024, and Dawn confirmed it in a Rawalpindi report in March 2026. The money arrives by a **digital card or bank transfer**, with the Bank of Punjab handling payment. We found no official payment calendar. The card cost **Rs 3 billion** in 2025-26, APP reported from the June 2026 Punjab budget. ## How do I register for the Minority Card? Cards have been issued in phases. We couldn't open the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department's website or any Minority Card portal on 24 October 2026, so we can't confirm a current online form. What news reports show about earlier rounds: - **Applications were collected district by district.** In Gujranwala, 5,454 families applied in the first round and 5,117 were found eligible, Dawn reported in March 2025. - **Churches and community groups helped people apply.** The Diocese of Lahore helped thousands of poor Christian families register, Christian Daily reported in January 2025. - **A digital application was ordered** in May 2025 to keep data on minority families, Aaj News reported. **Pages offering Minority Card registration:** Many websites give their own portal address, helpline, deadlines and "phase 3" dates. We couldn't confirm any of them from a government page or a news report. Apply only through your DC office or the department, and never pay anyone to register you. ## What is DC verification for the Minority Card? The deputy commissioner (DC) of each district runs the checking. In December 2024 the Human Rights Secretary told every DC to name a focal person and supervise each stage, and verified lists go to the **Bank of Punjab**, which issues the cards (The Nation). In Gujranwala, assistant commissioners handed out the cards in each tehsil, Dawn reported. The minister warned in May 2025 that cards would be cancelled for negligence or misconduct. ## How many families get the Minority Card? The first phase had **50,000 cards**. In May 2025 the steering committee raised the quota to **75,000**, and more than 40,000 families had already been paid, Aaj News reported. Distribution has continued in 2026. Rawalpindi handed out 850 cards in the first phase and planned about 994 more in the second, Dawn reported on 9 March 2026. We found no newer province-wide figure. ## Is Rs 10,500 a quarter enough? It's about Rs 3,500 a month. Adeel Rehmat of Pak Mission Society told Christian Daily in January 2025 that the amount is too small to change living conditions for families in low-paid work, and asked for jobs, scholarships or microfinance instead. ## What other support can minority families get? [BISP](/money/guides/bisp-8171/) is the federal support programme, separate from Punjab's cards. For other Punjab support, see the [CM Punjab Rashan Card](/money/guides/cm-punjab-rashan-card/) and the [Himmat Card](/money/guides/cm-punjab-himmat-card/) for persons with disabilities, or the full [CM Punjab schemes list](/money/guides/cm-punjab-schemes-list/). **More guides:** [CM Punjab schemes list](/money/guides/cm-punjab-schemes-list/) · [BISP 8171](/money/guides/bisp-8171/) · [CM Punjab Rashan Card](/money/guides/cm-punjab-rashan-card/) · [Himmat Card](/money/guides/cm-punjab-himmat-card/) · [Benazir Taleemi Wazaif](/money/guides/benazir-taleemi-wazaif/) ## Questions people ask ### How much does the CM Punjab Minority Card pay? Rs 10,500 every three months, which is Rs 42,000 a year if all four payments are made. It is paid by a Bank of Punjab card or bank transfer. ### Who is eligible for the CM Punjab Minority Card? Poor non-Muslim families in Punjab, such as Christian, Hindu and Sikh households, with a PMT poverty score of 45 or below. ### What is DC verification for the Minority Card? Each district's deputy commissioner (DC) oversees the checking of applications through named focal persons. Verified lists go to the Bank of Punjab, which issues the cards. ### Is CM Punjab Minority Card registration open in 2026? We found no official notice of an open window as of 24 October 2026, and we couldn't open the department's website to check. Ask your DC office or the Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department. ## Sources - [Punjab Govt to launch Minority Card Project on Dec 20: Ramesh (31 Oct 2024)](https://www.radio.gov.pk/31-10-2024/punjab-govt-to-launch-minority-card-project-on-dec-20-ramesh), Radio Pakistan (accessed 24 Oct 2026) - [Punjab minister reviews issues related to minority cards (7 Dec 2024)](https://www.nation.com.pk/07-Dec-2024/punjab-minister-reviews-issues-related-to-minority-cards), The Nation (accessed 24 Oct 2026) - [Pakistan's Punjab province launches cash cards for religious minorities (24 Jan 2025)](https://www.christiandaily.com/news/pakistan-s-punjab-province-launches-cash-cards-for-religious-minorities), Christian Daily International (accessed 24 Oct 2026) - [Minority cards distributed (2 Mar 2025)](https://www.dawn.com/news/1895253/minority-cards-distributed), Dawn (accessed 24 Oct 2026) - [Punjab govt increases minority cards quota to 75,000: minister (15 May 2025)](https://english.aaj.tv/news/330416137/punjab-govt-increases-minority-cards-quota-to-75000-minister), Aaj News (accessed 24 Oct 2026) - [Over 800 minority cards distributed among community members in Rawalpindi (9 Mar 2026)](https://www.dawn.com/news/1979894), Dawn (accessed 24 Oct 2026) - [Punjab expands social welfare net, allocates billions for minorities and vulnerable groups (16 Jun 2026)](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1228270), Associated Press of Pakistan (accessed 24 Oct 2026)