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Pakistan Orders Ramadan Aid Paid via SIM-Linked Digital Wallets Starting March

Officials frame the move as a step toward cashless payments.

Overview

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that all Ramadan assistance be disbursed exclusively through digital wallets under a new Social Protection Wallet managed by BISP.
  • Beneficiaries will receive free SIM cards for wallet access, with digital disbursements scheduled to begin in March 2026.
  • The plan brings the State Bank of Pakistan into the process and mandates a digital dashboard and monitoring system for oversight.
  • Officials said an independent audit of last year’s Ramadan package reported no financial corruption or serious administrative issues and praised transparency.
  • Sharif criticized past mismanagement at Utility Stores and instructed ministries to maximize inclusion of low- and lower-middle-income households in the upgraded package.