Punjab Launches Support Card Scheme for Widows, Up to Rs 150,000 Aid

LAHORE: A new program to give widows in the province financial support has been authorized by the Punjab administration. The Zakat and Welfare Department will administer the Support Card Scheme, which aims to alleviate financial strains and assist widows in providing for their basic requirements as parents and caregivers.

Each qualifying widow will receive Rs 100,000 in cash as part of the program. Depending on the number of children, further financial aid will be given; widows with one kid would receive an additional Rs 25,000, while widows with two children will receive an additional Rs 50,000. The program’s goals are to empower widows to sustain their own and their families’ financial security and lessen their dependency on unofficial charity.

The program would be funded with Rs 4 billion from the Zakat and Welfare Department, indicating a substantial commitment in Punjab’s social welfare and women’s economic empowerment. According to officials, the program should be launched by the end of this month. To guarantee that qualified women can promptly get the benefits, registration drives are being organized around the province.

“This initiative reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to providing targeted support for vulnerable groups, particularly widows who face both emotional and financial challenges,” said a senior official from the Zakat and Welfare Department. We intend to provide them with the resources to meet their children’s basic needs and enhance their general quality of life by providing direct financial help.

Women’s rights activists and civil society organizations have praised the program, pointing out that widows, who frequently experience social and economic marginalization, need financial independence. In order to guarantee that the aid reaches the people who need it the most, they underlined the significance of transparent and seamless execution.

Punjab has taken another step in bolstering social protection programs that aim to uplift women with the Support Card Scheme, which also establishes a framework that may be expanded in the future.