LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the launch of a special “Maryam Ko Batain” programme during Ramazan to provide immediate financial assistance to the deserving families.

“The programme will be launched from the first of Ramazan to ensure prompt support for people facing financial hardship. Under the initiative, eligible individuals will be able to receive financial assistance of up to Rs10,000 within 24 hours,” the CM said in a post on X on Monday.

She said a dedicated helpline – 1000 – would become functional from the start of Ramazan, enabling needy people to apply for assistance.

The applicants will also be able to request aid by entering their CNIC number on a web portal or mobile application, after which verification will be carried out through a transparent digital system.

The chief minister said the programme would include live tracking, digital record-keeping and monitoring to ensure transparency.

Registered applicants under the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER) database will receive funds within 24 hours, while verification and registration of new applicants will be completed within four days.

Ms Nawaz said that during Ramazan the government would ensure access to state resources for every deserving individual in need of assistance.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026