Punjab expands Himmat Card Program, giving Rs 10,500 financial aid to 25,000 persons with disabilities in August 2025 with governance and transparency
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has further Punjab Expands Himmat Card, extending financial support of Rs 10,500 per quarter to an additional 25,000 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in August 2025. This latest expansion underscores the Punjab government’s sustained commitment to welfare support for differently-abled individuals and reflects the technical robustness and integrity of the program’s implementation.
Program Overview – CM Punjab Himmat Card Program Expansion
The Punjab Expands Himmat Card, launched in 2024, was designed to issue ATM-based Himmat Cards to eligible persons with disabilities across Punjab, delivering a quarterly stipend of Rs 10,500. The initial rollout covered 40,000 beneficiaries, followed by a second phase targeting 25,000 more, totaling 65,000 recipients.
In Phase II, recently expanded during August 2025, the government extended assistance to 25,000 additional PWDs, providing each with Rs 10,500 quarterly. Disbursement continues via biometric verification at designated social welfare camp sites, ensuring security and precision in the distribution of funds.
Background and Launch of Himmat Card Program
The program was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Punjab Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Mal Department and the Bank of Punjab, signed in the presence of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The MoU enables the issuance of ATM-based Himmat Cards, facilitating seamless quarterly stipend payments and establishing an infrastructure for current and future services tailored for PWDs.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized the state’s responsibility toward “deserving special persons,” affirming that the Himmat Card initiative reflects an institutional commitment to financial inclusion and social welfare for vulnerable groups.
Phase II – Additional 25,000 PWDs Receive Rs 10,500 in August 2025
During a ceremony attended by Punjab’s Minister for Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal, Sohail Shaukat Butt, and senior officials including the Director General of Social Welfare and representatives from the Punjab IT Board and Bank of Punjab, the second phase was officially launched. In this phase, 25,000 differently-abled individuals were incorporated into the program and began receiving Rs 10,500 each. Punjab Expands Himmat Card initiative reflects the government’s commitment to providing financial assistance and social support to persons with disabilities.
A monitoring cell has been established at the head office of the Social Welfare Department to oversee distribution logistics, disbursement scheduling, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the program’s rollout.
Disbursement Mechanism and Technical Implementation
The stipend disbursement leverages biometric verification systems deployed at designated social welfare camp sites, ensuring that financial aid reaches only verified beneficiaries. This method strengthens both security and accuracy of the program, significantly reducing the risk of fraud and misallocation.
Adequate technological infrastructure has been put in place, supported by Bank of Punjab and the Punjab IT Board, to manage the Himmat Card lifecycle—from issuance to disbursement monitoring—fostering an efficient and accountable delivery framework.
Scale and Impact of the Himmat Card Program
To date, the Himmat Card Program has disbursed over Rs 410 million in financial assistance during its first phase—which supported 40,000 PWDs—and continues to scale through its Phase II expansion targeting 25,000 more beneficiaries.
This expansion positively impacts the economic independence and dignity of PWDs across Punjab. The program provides a consistent quarterly income stream, equipping beneficiaries with resource predictability and enabling them to meet essential needs—with potential access to future support services built into the program’s design.
Governance, Oversight and Transparency Punjab Expands Himmat Card with Rs 10,500 Aid for PWDs
Key components bolstering program governance include:
- A dedicated monitoring cell established within the Social Welfare Department headed by senior officials to supervise distribution integrity.
- Use of biometric authentication to confirm beneficiaries at disbursement, preventing fraud.
- Oversight by a network of government departments and financial institutions, ensuring inter-agency collaboration and efficiency.
These layers of oversight contribute to the program’s credibility and reliability.
Future Prospects and Program Evolution
While current implementation focuses on quarterly cash disbursements, the Himmat Card infrastructure enables scope for expansion. Potential future enhancements may include:
- Integration with healthcare services, transport concessions, or assistive device provisioning similar to service bundles in other welfare initiatives.
- Enhancement of digital interoperability, allowing smooth coordination across various government services.
Although future plans are not yet formally announced, the operational model positions the program well for modular growth.
Conclusion Punjab Expands Himmat Card: Rs 10,500 Aid for PWDs
CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Himmat Card Program expansion in August 2025 represents a critical advance in delivering structured financial aid to 25,000 more persons with disabilities, with each recipient receiving Rs 10,500 per quarter. Since its inception, the program has already reached 65,000 beneficiaries, with disbursement mechanisms fortified by biometric systems, banking collaboration, and departmental oversight—ensuring both efficiency and accountability.
