What happened
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday formally unveiled the “Ramazan Package 2026”, a relief initiative worth Rs38 billion that the government says will reach more than 12 million families, with each deserving household receiving Rs13,000 through digital payments.
Addressing a ceremony broadcast live on national television, the prime minister said the money 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, describing it as a major administrative and technological undertaking.
Officials said the per-family assistance had been raised from Rs5,000 under the earlier programme to Rs13,000 for the coming Ramazan.
Why the government changed the system
Shehbaz said the government had abolished the old distribution system, 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 added that the shift to a cashless digital system ensured direct cash transfers to deserving families.
The prime minister said 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.
How the payments are meant to work
Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said an increased amount of Rs13,000 would go to each deserving family, while Rs10 billion had also been allocated for people already benefiting from the system. He said the adoption of digital banking had improved transparency, saved the public time and preserved beneficiaries’ dignity.
Secretary of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Aamer Ali Ahmad called the initiative a historic relief package, saying it reflected compassion in line with the spirit of Ramazan. He said the Rs38 billion package would benefit over 12 million families, assisting nearly 36 million people nationwide, and that the State Bank of Pakistan had issued a comprehensive framework for the distribution process. A helpline (9999), a mobile app and an online portal have also been launched to support beneficiaries.
What is still uncertain
The government did not announce a disbursement calendar or give a detailed breakdown of how the Rs38 billion would be split between new beneficiaries and existing BISP recipients. Officials said further details would be shared as the distribution begins.
Sources & reporting notes
This article summarises published reporting, not eyewitness coverage. Sources were reviewed on 14 February 2026.
- Pakistan Today — "PM unveils Rs38b Ramazan Package 2026 as cashless relief expands nationwide"14 February 2026 · Reports the launch ceremony, the Rs13,000 per-family payout and the BISP and State Bank arrangements.