Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Initiative A Lifeline for 1.25 Million Labour Families in Punjab

Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Initiative

Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Initiative In a landmark move to uplift the working class, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the largest-ever ration card program in Pakistan’s history. With an impressive welfare package worth Rs. 84 billion, the Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Initiative is a structured response to the rising cost of living aimed specifically at labourers and miners registered with the provincial social security system. This initiative stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to bridging the socioeconomic gap and bringing relief directly to the homes of deserving workers.

The program was unveiled at a high-profile Labour Day ceremony in Lahore, where Maryam Nawaz addressed thousands of workers reiterating her government’s dedication to dignified and sustainable welfare. Through this initiative 1.25 million families will receive a monthly subsidy of Rs 3000 beginning June 1, 2025. The funds will be disbursed via the newly introduced JS Bank  Zindagi card, designed to provide not only financial aid but also additional services tailored to workers needs.

This ration card initiative is not a one-off distribution plan. Instead, it reflects a broader welfare strategy encompassing healthcare, education, housing, transport, and digital financial inclusion. It signals a shift from traditional relief models to a more integrated, accessible, and dignified form of assistance.

A Commitment to Labourers: Honoring the Backbone of the Economy

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while launching the initiative highlighted the critical role played by Pakistan’s workforce in national development. She stressed that it is the sweat of labourers that builds the roads airports motorways  and hospitals that drive progress. She emphasized that while labourers work tirelessly often 15 to 16 hours a day they should not be left behind in the march toward economic growth.

She asserted that the ration card is not charity but a form of recognition and support for hard-working individuals who form the backbone of Punjab’s economy. It is her wish and prayer, she said, that no labourer’s child goes to bed hungry, and no worker feels neglected by the state.

Key Features of the Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Program

• Monthly Financial Aid: Rs. 3,000 per month will be provided to 1.25 million working families.
  
• JS Bank Zindagi Card: The digital card will allow beneficiaries to:
  
  • Access cash benefits
    
  • Receive advance salaries
    
  • Transfer funds digitally
    
  • Avail insurance coverage
    
  • Enjoy 13 additional financial services
    
• Annual Budget: Initially launched with an annual allocation of Rs. 50 billion, later expanded to Rs. 84 billion to accommodate more workers.
  
• Eligibility: Registered social security workers and miners in Punjab.
  
• Dignified Distribution: Government representatives will deliver benefits to recipients’ doorsteps, eliminating the need for queues or repeated visits to offices.
  

A Broader Social Protection Network

The Rashan Card program is part of a larger social welfare framework. Alongside financial aid, CM Maryam Nawaz has launched several complementary initiatives for labour welfare:

• Healthcare Projects:
  
  • Foundation laid for Social Security Hospitals in Sargodha, Kasur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
    
  • Punjab’s first Maryam Nawaz Wellness Center and a 200-bed Cardiac City for workers.
    
  • Introduction of teleclinics to ensure remote medical care access for labourers.
    
• Housing and Infrastructure:
  
  • 30,000 houses have been built under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” scheme within one year.
    
  • Target set to build 100,000 homes by the end of the year.
    
  • New labour colonies launched in Taxila, Sundar Industrial Estate, Warburton, and Multan Phase II.
    
• Education Support:
  
  • 50,000 students’ education will be sponsored for the next three years.
    
  • 100,000 laptops to be distributed to students in Punjab.
    
• Transport and Connectivity:
  
  • Electric bus services already operational in Lahore, soon to expand across Punjab.
    
  • Metro bus service and RT Bus systems to be launched in major cities including Gujranwala.
    
• Clean Punjab Initiative:
  
  • Through the Suthra Punjab program household garbage collection has begun on a wide scale.
    

Special Measures for Worker Inclusion

• Motorcycle & Solar Panel Lottery: A symbolic yet practical gesture, lotteries were held to distribute motorcycles and solar panels among deserving workers.
  
• Day Care Centers: 300 new facilities for female workers in factories.
  
• Minimum Wage Guarantee: A strict directive to ensure Rs. 37,000 minimum wage is paid to all workers, regardless of sector.
  
• Inspiration from Workers: Maryam Nawaz cited the example of a disabled labourer from Muzaffargarh as a symbol of Pakistan’s hardworking spirit.
  

Economic Philosophy and Political Vision

Maryam Nawaz attributed the vision for Pakistan’s infrastructural and economic growth to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. She credited his leadership for making Pakistan a nuclear power and initiating mega projects that set the stage for long-term prosperity. She also commended Shahbaz Sharif for reducing electricity tariffs and wheat subsidies that brought down the price of roti to Rs. 12–15.

She remarked that while all provinces have resources, it is the intention to serve honestly that differentiates one government from another. “We don’t just make promises; we deliver them,” she affirmed.

Conclusion:

The Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Initiative is more than just a welfare scheme—it is a comprehensive effort to restore dignity, financial stability, and equal opportunity for Punjab’s labour class. With targeted aid, technology-driven delivery, and integrated support services, the program sets a new benchmark in Pakistan’s social protection landscape.

It marks a pivotal shift from reactive relief to proactive empowerment. By ensuring that the government reaches out to the people—not the other way around—Maryam Nawaz’s administration is redefining governance and setting the foundation for a more inclusive and just Punjab.

FAQs

 What is the Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Initiative?
It is a welfare program launched to provide free or subsidized food items to low-income families in Punjab.

Who can apply for the Rashan Card?
Poor families, daily wage earners, widows, and BISP-registered individuals are eligible.

 How to apply for the Rashan Card?
Citizens can register online, via SMS, or through nearby utility or Ehsaas centers.

 What are the benefits of the Rashan Card?
Cardholders receive monthly essential food items at no or low cost from designated stores.

 What is the goal of this initiative?
The program aims to reduce poverty and food insecurity across Punjab.