LAHORE: Following the computerised ballot held on June 23, the Chief Minister of Punjab’s Rahmat Card initiative has reached a significant milestone with JazzCash beginning digital disbursements to selected widows and orphans across Punjab.
According to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) on Tuesday, the launch of digital payments marks a successful transition from beneficiary selection to the delivery of financial assistance, completing another crucial phase of one of Punjab’s most advanced social welfare initiatives. The CM Punjab Rahmat Card is a collaborative effort involving the Punjab government, the Punjab Zakat and Ushr Department, PITB, NADRA, the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), the Urban Unit, JazzCash, and other stakeholders. This initiative aims to digitise the entire lifecycle of welfare assistance, from citizen applications and eligibility verification to transparent beneficiary selection and digital financial disbursements.
During the computerised ballot ceremony, officials acknowledged the successful implementation of the project’s technology. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (SACM) Rashid Iqbal Nasrullah praised the PITB team for their continuous technical support throughout the project’s implementation, noting their adherence to strict timelines. He also expressed gratitude to PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf for providing prompt guidance and support at various stages of the initiative.
Punjab Zakat and Ushr Secretary Irfan Ahmad Sandhu commended PITB for designing, developing, and operationalising the comprehensive digital ecosystem supporting the program. He appreciated the PITB’s commitment to ensuring the timely completion of all assigned tasks despite challenging timelines.
Participants at the event noted that the CM Punjab Rahmat Card is the first initiative of its kind undertaken by the Punjab Zakat and Ushr Department, in both scale and technological sophistication. By replacing traditional manual processes with integrated digital workflows, the programme has introduced unprecedented levels of transparency, efficiency, accountability, and speed in delivering welfare assistance.
The PITB developed a comprehensive digital platform to support the initiative, which includes an online citizen application portal, an Android mobile app, a dedicated helpline, a Beneficiary Management System, and a multi-agency digital verification engine linked to NADRA and the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER). Citizens can submit applications online, which are then verified through government databases and assessed for eligibility. Applications are allocated according to district quotas and selected through a transparent computerised ballot, with funds disbursed digitally via JazzCash.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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