There are households in Punjab where a widow is raising children alone with no income, no support, and no real way forward. The government has now put a structured program in place specifically for families like these, and the numbers behind it are serious enough to pay attention to.
The Punjab Rahmat Card Program has been launched with an initial budget of Rs 5 billion. In the first phase alone, 50,000 families will be covered. Eligible widows receive a grant of Rs 100,000, and an additional Rs 25,000 is provided per orphan child, with the total capped at Rs 150,000 per family. The program is specifically for Zakat eligible widows and orphans in Punjab. Selection is merit based through the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry and NADRA databases, and payments are made through biometric verification using Bank of Punjab and JazzCash to ensure the money reaches the right person directly.
Key Features
- Targeted Assistance: For Zakat eligible widows and orphans in Punjab
- Financial Support:
- Rs. 100,000 grant for widows
- Rs. 25,000 per orphan child
- Maximum Rs. 150,000 per family
- Program Coverage: 50,000 families in the first phase
- Budget Allocation: Rs. 5 billion
- Digital Access: Registration via helpline 1077, web portal, and mobile application
- Merit Based Selection: Verification through PSER and NADRA databases
- Secure Disbursement: Biometric enabled payments via bank accounts and digital wallets
If you know a widow or a family with orphaned children who might qualify, the registration is available through the helpline at 1077, online at rahmatcard.punjab.gov.pk, or by visiting a local Zakat and Ushr office. This is one of those programs where the eligibility check takes minutes and the benefit is real enough to change what the next few months look like for a struggling family.