Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that all Ramadan assistance be delivered exclusively through digital wallets.
- The rollout will begin in March 2026 using SIM cards linked to a new Social Protection Wallet under the Benazir Income Support Programme.
- The State Bank of Pakistan will facilitate the shift as part of a broader move toward a cashless economy.
- Ministries were tasked to build a digital dashboard and expand coverage to eligible low- and lower-middle-income households, with NADRA and the PTA supporting identity and SIM provisioning.
- Officials reported third-party validation of last year’s package found no evidence of financial corruption, as the government moves away from the mismanaged Utility Stores model.