ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Wednesday that nearly nine in ten eligible beneficiaries have received payments under the government’s Prime Minister’s Ramazan Package 2026.

During a review meeting chaired by the prime minister, officials said that 1,955,620 digital transactions had been completed under the scheme to date.

The programme, designed to provide financial support during Ramazan, they added, has been implemented with an emphasis on transparency and efficiency.

READ MORE: PM launches Rs20bn Ramazan package

Commending the institutions involved in administering the package, the prime minister described the Social Protection Wallets – a digital payment platform used to disburse the funds – as a significant milestone and a successful initiative in financial technology and transparency in the country.

He instructed that all future payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) be processed through these wallets to ensure consistency and accountability.

Officials also highlighted efforts to raise public awareness about the package, noting a comprehensive campaign across print, electronic, and social media channels. They said that the government’s 9999 helpline had received 1.7 million calls related to the programme, while 2.7 million SMS messages had been sent to inform beneficiaries about their entitlements.

The briefing further noted that Social Protection Wallets had played an important role in reducing gender disparities in access to digital financial services, reflecting a broader commitment to inclusive digital policy.

The review meeting was attended by several senior ministers, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Imran Ahmed Shah, Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, as well as, BISP chairperson Rubina Khalid and other relevant officials.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026