ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday formally unveiled the Ramazan Relief Package, worth Rs38 billion, which would benefit more than 12 million families — around 36m people — through direct digital payments.

Addressing a ceremony broadcast on national television, the prime minister highlighted that the government had discontinued the old distribution system last year due to the low quality of items and long queues at Utility Stores, which compromised the dignity and self-respect of deserving families.

“With the introduction of a digital system, direct cash payments were made to deserving families under a new cashless mechanism last year,” he said, adding that a third-party audit of Rs20bn allocated for 2025’s relief package confirmed the distribution process was highly transparent and free from corruption.

On the basis of that experience, the premier announced that this year’s package would be implemented with renewed commitment and improvements. Each deserving family will now receive an enhanced amount of Rs13,000, up from Rs5,000 last year.

The Rs38bn will be disbursed through digital wallets and banking channels across the four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, representing a massive operational undertaking in terms of scale and logistics.

Kafalat programme

Out of the total allocation, Rs10bn has been earmarked for families alre­ady registered under the government’s Kafalat programme, while Rs28bn will assist those not covered by other sponsorship schemes.

The prime minister acknowledged challenges encountered with the digital system, including banks’ initial reluctance, the absence of a fully developed cashless economy in Pakistan, and operational hurdles faced by the State Bank. “This year, the same experiment is being repeated with better performance and impro­ved key performance indicators,” he said.

Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah emphasised that the digital banking system not only enhances transparency but also saves citizens’ time and protects their dignity.

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Secretary Aamer Ali Ahmad described the initiative as a historic relief package rooted in compassion and empathy, in line with the spirit of Ramazan.

To ensure smooth implementation, the State Bank of Pakistan has issued a framework for transparent, speedy, and secure distribution. A helpline 9999, mobile application, and online portal have also been introduced to assist beneficiaries and address grievances.

PM Shehbaz thanked international partners for their support and expres­sed confidence that the initiative would become a landmark achievement.

He assured that the scheme’s progress would be reviewed periodically to ensure that assistance reaches deserving families efficiently, without discrimination based on party affiliation or political viewpoint.

He reiterated that this was the largest federal effort for Ramazan in terms of volume and challenges, and described the cashless digital approach as a major step forward in replacing the flawed old system with a more transparent and dignified mechanism for Pakistanis in need.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026