# CM Punjab Rashan Card: who qualifies, how much it pays and how to register URL: https://which.pk/money/guides/cm-punjab-rashan-card/ Author: Ahtisham Updated: 18 Oct 2026 ## Summary The CM Punjab (Maryam Nawaz) Rashan Card gives Rs 3,000 of essential groceries a month, bought at more than 62,000 registered shops. As of July 2026, 1,244,130 workers registered with Punjab Social Security had the card, and the province added Rs 43.2 billion for 2026-27. Mine workers and Suthra Punjab workers are also covered. The Ramazan Nigehban card is a different, one-off scheme: Rs 10,000 to 4.2 million families in Ramazan 2026, when Rashan Card holders also got Rs 10,000. ## Key facts - Monthly value: Rs 3,000 of groceries - Cards issued: 1,244,130 (Jul 2026) - Registered shops: 62,000+ - Extra funding 2026-27: Rs 43.2 billion The CM Punjab Rashan Card (also called the Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card) gives **Rs 3,000 of essential groceries a month**, bought at more than **62,000 registered shops** across Punjab. As of July 2026, **1,244,130 workers** registered with Punjab Social Security had the card, and the province approved **Rs 43.2 billion more for 2026-27**. Mine workers and Suthra Punjab workers are covered too. The Ramazan Nigehban card is a separate, one-off scheme. **Is it open?** Yes, as an ongoing monthly subsidy. As of 18 October 2026 the government was expanding it, and we found no closing date. **Paid out so far:** Rs 28 billion (To 1.2 million registered workers, per The Nation and The Express Tribune, 27-28 Jul 2026) ## How much does the Rashan Card give? The card carries **Rs 3,000 a month** for essential food items. You spend it at registered shops; the Punjab Portal page (archived October 2025) says it works at utility stores and registered karyana shops for flour, rice, sugar, ghee and other kitchen basics. At Rs 3,000 a month, that's Rs 36,000 over a year. In **Ramazan 2026**, card holders got **Rs 10,000** instead of the usual Rs 3,000, under the Ramazan Nigehban package. Some reports of the April 2025 launch said Rs 30,000 a month. Every later report, and the Punjab Portal, says Rs 3,000, so we follow them. ## Who can get the CM Punjab Rashan Card? The government's own page and the news describe the target group differently: | | Punjab Portal page (archived Oct 2025) | News reports (2025-26) | |---|---|---| | Who | 1.25 million low-income households | Registered workers | | Register through | PSER survey; Social Security or Worker Welfare registration also listed | Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) | | Limits | Income under Rs 50,000 a month, PMT under 35 | Not stated | | Excluded | Government employees, BISP families | Not stated | In practice, the cards have gone to **workers registered with PESSI**, which opened bank accounts for over 1.2 million of them, APP reported in April 2026. The Mines and Minerals Department launched the card for **40,000 mine workers** in July 2025, and over **100,000 Suthra Punjab workers** benefit, The Nation reported in July 2026. The portal's list says one person per family, with a valid CNIC and a mobile number registered on the same CNIC, and only permanent residents of Punjab. ## How do I register for the Rashan Card? The Punjab Portal lists three routes: **register on the PSER (Punjab Socio-Economic Registry) portal**, or go to your **union council office** or the **nearest e-Khidmat Markaz**. For workers, the card comes through Social Security registration. When the Chief Minister approved the expansion in July 2026, she told officials to **increase the number of registered workers** so more people get the card. Registered workers reached a record 1,403,063 by then. The Bank of Punjab prints and delivers the cards, and a Ration Card Cell at the Punjab Social Security head office in Lahore handles issue, distribution and monitoring, APP reported in November 2025. We couldn't open the Punjab government portal, PSER or PESSI's website on 18 October 2026, so we couldn't confirm a Rashan Card helpline, a shop list or an online status check. The numbers on unofficial sites didn't match any official source we could read. ## What is the Nigehban card? The **Ramazan Nigehban card** was a one-off Ramazan payment, not a monthly ration. The Chief Minister approved the Rs 47 billion package on 26 Jan 2026: - **4.2 million families** got **Rs 10,000 each** during Ramazan. - Over **2 million** of them got a Nigehban card for cash withdrawal and essential goods. - Rashan Card holders got Rs 10,000 that month instead of Rs 3,000. - Social Security-registered workers **without** a Rashan Card also got Rs 10,000, collected with a six-digit PIN, their CNIC and a fingerprint at HBL Konnect, UBL Omni or Alfa Pay agents, APP reported on 3 Mar 2026. Card delivery started on 14 Feb 2026. Cards were activated at **136 activation centres** and branchless banking agents, and cash came from agents and ATMs. The dedicated helpline was **08000-2345**, Daily Times reported. **Is the Nigehban card still active?:** The Nigehban package was for Ramazan 2026. As of 18 October 2026 we found no announcement of a new round, so websites offering "Nigehban card activation" or "balance check" now aren't describing a live programme. ## How do I avoid Rashan Card scams? We found no official fraud warning specific to the Rashan or Nigehban card. The routes the government lists are its own: the PSER portal, union council offices, e-Khidmat Markaz and Social Security. Payment checks for the Nigehban card were done by calling holders to confirm receipt, Radio Pakistan reported. If a message from an unknown number promises a card in exchange for a fee, it isn't one of those routes. For federal support, BISP's [Benazir Kafaalat](/money/guides/bisp-8171/) and [Taleemi Wazaif](/money/guides/benazir-taleemi-wazaif/) programmes send messages only from 8171. Punjab's [Himmat Card](/money/guides/cm-punjab-himmat-card/) is for persons with disabilities. **More guides:** [BISP 8171](/money/guides/bisp-8171/) · [Benazir Taleemi Wazaif](/money/guides/benazir-taleemi-wazaif/) · [Himmat Card](/money/guides/cm-punjab-himmat-card/) · [Kissan Card](/money/guides/kissan-card-punjab/) · [EOBI pension](/money/guides/eobi-pension/) ## Questions people ask ### How much does the CM Punjab Rashan Card give? Rs 3,000 a month of essential food items, bought at registered shops. In Ramazan 2026 card holders got Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 3,000. ### Who can get the Rashan Card? Mainly workers registered with the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI), plus mine workers and Suthra Punjab workers. The Punjab Portal's page also lists PSER registration, monthly income under Rs 50,000 and a PMT score under 35. ### How do I apply for the CM Punjab Rashan Card? The Punjab Portal says you apply through the PSER portal, your union council office or the nearest e-Khidmat Markaz. For workers, the card follows Social Security registration, and the government has told officials to register more workers. ### Is the Nigehban card the same as the Rashan Card? No. The Ramazan Nigehban card was a one-off Rs 10,000 payment to 4.2 million families in Ramazan 2026. The Rashan Card is a monthly grocery subsidy for registered workers. ### What is the Nigehban card helpline number? 08000-2345, the dedicated helpline Daily Times reported when card delivery started on 14 Feb 2026. We couldn't open the Punjab government's own page to confirm it. ## Sources - [CM Punjab Ration Card (Internet Archive copy of 24 Oct 2025)](https://web.archive.org/web/20251024205342/https://punjab.gov.pk/node/6441), Government of the Punjab (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Punjab approves expansion of ration card programme for registered workers (27 Jul 2026)](https://www.nation.com.pk/27-Jul-2026/punjab-approves-expansion-ration-card-programme-registered-workers), The Nation (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [CM orders expansion of ration scheme (28 Jul 2026)](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2620649/cm-orders-expansion-of-ration-scheme), The Express Tribune (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Rs. 22bn disbursed under Maryam Nawaz Ration Card programme (15 Apr 2026)](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1194408), Associated Press of Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Minister reviews progress on ration card distribution (4 Nov 2025)](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1101492), Associated Press of Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Punjab launches Maryam Nawaz Ration Card to support 40,000 mines workers (12 Jul 2025)](https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/07/12/punjab-launches-maryam-nawaz-ration-card-to-support-40000-mines-workers), Profit (Pakistan Today) (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [CM Punjab approves Ramazan Nigehban package worth Rs47b (26 Jan 2026)](https://www.radio.gov.pk/26-01-2026/cm-punjab-approves-ramazan-nigehban-package-worth-rs47b), Radio Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Punjab allocates Rs47 billion for Ramazan Nigehban package (27 Jan 2026)](https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/01/27/punjab-allocates-rs47-billion-for-ramazan-nigehban-package/), Profit (Pakistan Today) (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Punjab CM announces start of Ramazan Nigehban ATM card delivery (15 Feb 2026)](https://dailytimes.com.pk/1451682/punjab-cm-announces-start-of-ramazan-nigehban-atm-card-delivery/), Daily Times (accessed 18 Oct 2026) - [Workers registered with Social Security to get Rs10,000 under CM package (3 Mar 2026)](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1171661), Associated Press of Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)