LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Labour, Human Resource, Youth Affairs and Sports, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, has announced the launch of a major ration card subsidy programme to support 1.2 million deserving families across the province. He shared details of the initiative during a press conference.
The minister said that each registered family will receive a monthly subsidy of Rs3,000 under the new ration card system. He added that this step fulfills another promise made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to support low-income and working-class households. “This is the biggest welfare programme in Punjab’s history focused on the labour class,” he said.
Khokhar informed that the programme has already started in selected districts including Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Jhang, DG Khan, Rawalpindi, Kasur, and Lahore. More districts will be added each month, and the distribution will be completed in five to six months.
He said the initiative is being implemented with the help of the Labour Department, Bank of Punjab, PITB, and other departments. The ration card distribution will be closely monitored every day to ensure transparency. “There will be no tolerance for deductions or mismanagement,” he warned.
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The minister also spoke about long-overdue reforms in the Labour Department. He said that after 75 years, important legislative changes have been made to improve the department’s performance. He appreciated the hard work and dedication of the department’s officers and staff.
Khokhar also announced major upgrades in social security institutions. He said all social security hospitals are being improved, and outdated equipment is being replaced at a cost of Rs5.5 billion.
Double shifts have been introduced at hospitals, dental surgeons have been appointed across the province, and new posts for physiotherapists have been approved. He added that daycare centres across Punjab are also being upgraded.
He further said that the government is fully implementing the minimum wage of Rs40,000 across the province.
“These efforts show the worker-friendly vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz,” Khokhar said. “No labourer in Punjab will be ignored. Every worker will be registered and their rights will be protected,” he added.
