The Benazir Women Agriculture Workers Card recognises the women who do much of the hard work on Sindh’s farms.
Approved by the Sindh cabinet in March 2026, the card covers farming, livestock and fisheries, and pairs
recognition with real legal protections: equal wages, maternity benefits and workplace safety. Here is what
the card offers, the rules behind it, and how the Rs500 million fund works.
What the Benazir Women Agriculture Workers Card Is
In March 2026, the Sindh cabinet approved the issuance of the Benazir Women Agriculture Workers Card.
The card gives formal identity to women who work in farming, livestock and fisheries across the province.
For the first time, women whose labour keeps the rural economy running will hold an official card that
recognises them as workers. The move came with a Rs500 million endowment fund for women workers’ welfare.
The idea is simple. A woman who harvests wheat, tends livestock or works at a fish landing site performs
real labour. Until now, she had no formal proof of that status. The new card changes that, and links her
to the protections of the newly approved Sindh Agriculture Women Workers Rules.
Sindh Agriculture Women Workers Rules: Equal Wages and Maternity Benefits
On the same day, the cabinet approved the Sindh Agriculture Women Workers Rules. They guarantee equal wages
for women doing the same work as men. The rules also provide maternity facilities, workplace protection, and
legal safeguards against harassment and discrimination, ProPakistani and Pakistan Today reported on 11 March 2026.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon briefed the cabinet on the rules, which were drawn up with technical
support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). Officials called the framework the first of its kind
in Pakistan.
Rs500 Million Endowment Fund for Women Workers
The cabinet also created a Rs500 million endowment fund for the welfare of women workers in agriculture and
allied sectors. The fund will finance welfare measures for women workers; disbursement details will follow
through official channels. The allocation is not entirely new. Sindh had already earmarked Rs500 million for
the Benazir Women Agricultural Workers Programme in the 2024-25 budget, as the chief minister noted in his
budget speech (Business Recorder, June 2024). The card and the new rules now turn that budget line into a
working programme. It also fits a wider push to support the rural economy.
See our detailed guide to the Sindh Wheat Procurement Policy.
ILO Support and Why It Is First-of-Its-Kind
The International Labour Organization gave technical support in drafting the rules. That matters because farm
labour in Pakistan largely sits outside formal labour law. Seasonal and informal work rarely comes with
contracts, payslips or grievance channels. By anchoring equal pay, maternity protection and anti-harassment
safeguards in formal rules, Sindh has built a model other provinces can copy.
How Women Workers Benefit
The announcements so far point to concrete gains for women in the fields, on livestock farms and in fisheries:
- Formal recognition as registered agriculture workers
- Equal wages for the same work as men
- Maternity facilities and benefits for working mothers
- Safer working conditions and workplace protection
- Legal safeguards against harassment and discrimination
- Welfare support through the Rs500 million endowment fund
How It Differs From the Benazir Mazdoor Card and Benazir Hari Card
The names sound alike, but the three schemes are different. Start with the Benazir Mazdoor Card.
That card is tied to the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) and covers registered
industrial and commercial workers. The Benazir Hari Card, by contrast, is a farmer subsidy programme for
growers. The new card is specifically for women in farming, livestock and fisheries, and centres on
recognition, equal wages and workplace protection.
FAQs
How do I get the Benazir Women Agriculture Workers Card? The registration process has not been announced
yet. No registration centres, helplines or portals have been notified so far. Watch for announcements from
the Sindh Agriculture Department.
Who is eligible? Women working in farming, livestock and fisheries in Sindh. Exact criteria will be notified
with the registration process.
Is the Rs500 million paid to every worker? No. It is an endowment fund for women workers’ welfare, not a
per-person cash transfer. Welfare measures under the fund will be announced separately.
Does the card include a monthly stipend? No stipend or job guarantee has been announced. The card covers
recognition, equal wages, maternity benefits and workplace protection.
Conclusion
The Benazir Women Agriculture Workers Card is a genuine first for Pakistan: formal recognition, equal pay
rules, maternity cover and a Rs500 million welfare fund for the women who feed the province. The real test
is rollout — registration, card distribution and enforcement. For more on Benazir programmes, see the
Benazir Nashonuma Program.
Visit 8171 Pass Gov for the latest updates on Sindh government schemes.