CM’s ‘Maryam Ko Batain’ programme: over 1.1m get registered in 10 days

LAHORE: More than 1.1 million people have registered within 10 days for Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s new relief initiative, “Maryam Ko Batain” (MKB), launched to ensure direct financial assistance to deserving families not included in the initial list of four million beneficiaries.

According to details shared by Chairperson 1000 Helpline and Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell, Saima Farooq, thousands of eligible citizens have already received Rs 10,000 directly into their JazzCash mobile wallets against their CNIC records after due scrutiny and wealth filtering.

Of the total registrations, 910,000 were completed through the mobile application available on the Play Store under the name “Maryam Ko Batain”, 140,000 through the dedicated helpline 1000, and 50,000 via the official web portal (https://mkb.punjab.gov.pk). On average, more than 100,000 individuals are registering daily.

The briefing stated that the helpline recorded an unprecedented volume of call attempts, with 1.8 million calls in a single hour — peaking at 30,000 calls per minute and 500 calls per second — reflecting public confidence in the programme and the chief minister’s leadership. The Punjab government’s call centre can handle 800 calls simultaneously; callers beyond that limit receive a busy response due to telecom capacity constraints.

The initiative provides three simple methods for registration to ensure that every deserving citizen has an opportunity to apply. Multiple channels — mobile app, web portal and helpline — have been introduced to facilitate access for both urban and rural populations.

Under the programme, every applicant is issued a tracking ID upon registration. Beneficiaries are informed through robo-calls, SMS alerts and outbound verification calls. Upon receiving a confirmation message from JazzCash regarding the Rs10,000 transfer, recipients may collect the amount by presenting the message and their original CNIC to a JazzCash representative.

Officials emphasised that the system ensures transparency, tracking and accountability, and is entirely based on PSER data and PMT scoring. Direct cash transfers are made without intermediary involvement, while continuous digital verification mechanisms are in place to prevent fraud and duplicate registrations.

Individuals already benefiting from Ramazan Nigehban, Rashan Card, the Benazir Income Support Programme or the Prime Minister’s Ramazan Relief Programme are not eligible for assistance under “Maryam Ko Batain”. The chairperson advised those already receiving government aid not to seek registration under the new scheme.

The Ramazan Relief Measures 2026, officials said, reflect the Punjab government’s commitment to ensuring economic protection for vulnerable and deserving families. Every application received under “Maryam Ko Batain” is being processed through a transparent and scientific mechanism, reaffirming the government’s resolve to provide relief with dignity and accountability.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026