LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced an additional allocation of Rs43.2 billion this year for the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card programme, supplementing the Rs28 billion previously disbursed to 1.2 million registered workers.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the number of registered workers in the province has reached 1,403,063. Of these, 1,244,130 have received ration cards, with the printing of 4,984 cards ongoing. The programme allows registered workers to acquire essential commodities worth Rs3,000 monthly from 62,000 shops across Punjab.

The chief minister has also approved the continuation of the Ration Card Programme for the financial year 2026-27. Additionally, over 100,000 workers involved with the Suthra Punjab initiative are benefiting from the scheme. During a meeting, CM Punjab instructed officials to increase the number of registered workers. Labour Minister Manshaullah Butt and Secretary Labour Danish Afzal provided a briefing on the programme. The chief minister emphasized the importance of financial protection for every labourer and worker, calling for an expansion in the number of programme beneficiaries.