CM Punjab Ration Card: Current Status of the Ration Riayat Program
If you are looking for CNIC verification for the Ration Riayat Program in 2026, here is the important update first: the old federal Ehsaas Rashan Riayat scheme — launched in Punjab in October 2022 with the 8123 SMS code for discounts on flour, ghee and sugar — is not an active new-registration program in 2026. Punjab’s live ration support is the CM Punjab Ration Card. The 8123 code belongs to that 2022 phase, and no fresh government announcement has confirmed it as an active SMS registration code for 2026, so do not send your CNIC to 8123.
Punjab’s current ration support is the CM Punjab Ration Card: a digital smart card that gives eligible households Rs. 3,000 every month for groceries. It was launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on 30 April 2025, and the program has been approved to continue in 2026–27 with additional funding of Rs. 43.2 billion.
This guide explains the current status of the old scheme, who can get the CM Punjab Ration Card, how registration works, how to check your status, and how to stay safe from fake registration websites.
Also read our complete guide to getting free ration through the Ehsaas Ration Program.
Who Can Get the CM Punjab Ration Card?
The Ration Card is issued to registered workers. Industrial and other workers registered with the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) receive it through their employer, mine workers were added in July 2025, and more than 100,000 Suthra Punjab sanitation workers are also included. By July 2026, about 1,244,130 of 1,403,063 registered workers had received their cards.
If you are not a registered worker, complete your household’s PSER (Punjab Socio-Economic Registry) survey through the official PSER portal. PSER registration is one of the application routes for the Ration Card, and PSER data is also used for other Punjab relief programs. There is no fee for registration — anyone asking for money is running a scam.
BISP Bachat Scheme Online Registration Check With CNIC
How to Check Your Ration Card Registration Status
There is no verified public web portal in 2026 where you can enter your CNIC and instantly check the old 8123 Ehsaas Rashan status. Do not trust private websites that ask for your CNIC and claim to show an official 8123 result.
To check your current ration support status, visit your nearest e-Khidmat Markaz or Union Council with your original CNIC, or call the official helpline 0800-02345. Staff can verify your PSER record and guide you on the next steps.
How to Register a Complaint
If you are eligible but not receiving your ration support, Punjab’s e-Khidmat system lists a dedicated Ehsaas Rashan grievance and disbursement service. Visit your nearest e-Khidmat Markaz with your CNIC and any receipt or tracking number you were given.
Never share your ATM PIN, mobile-wallet PIN or one-time passwords (OTPs) with anyone claiming to fix your registration. Official staff will never ask for these details.
For more step-by-step guides on BISP and Ehsaas programs, visit the 8171 BISP Information homepage.
How Much Aid Does the CM Punjab Ration Card Give?
Eligible cardholders receive Rs. 3,000 every month on the digital smart card for essential groceries such as rice, flour, sugar and ghee. The amount is credited monthly and can be used at registered Utility Stores and partner karyana shops across Punjab; any unused balance carries forward to the next month.
During Ramzan 2026, Ration Card holders received Rs. 10,000 instead of the usual Rs. 3,000. The separate Ramzan Nigehban Card gave a one-time Rs. 10,000 to eligible families, and that round has now finished. The Punjab 2026-27 budget proposes funding for the next Ramzan round, expected around February 2027.
CM Punjab Ration Card Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is verified through official records. The current verified criteria are:
- Be a permanent resident of Punjab with a valid 13-digit CNIC.
- Be a worker registered with Punjab social security (PESSI), a mine worker, or a Suthra Punjab worker — or be recorded in the PSER survey as a low-income household.
- Have a monthly household income below Rs. 50,000.
- Have a PMT (poverty) score below about 34.
- No government employee in the household.
- Not already receiving a duplicate food subsidy — BISP Kafalat recipients are excluded to prevent double-dipping.
- Use a mobile number registered on your own CNIC for all correspondence.
Final Word on the CM Punjab Ration Card
The old 8123 Ehsaas Rashan Riayat phase from 2022 is not taking new SMS registrations in 2026. Punjab’s live ration support is the CM Punjab Ration Card, which gives Rs. 3,000 every month for groceries on a digital smart card. Register only through official channels — your employer’s PESSI registration, the PSER survey, or an e-Khidmat Markaz — and never pay any agent or middleman.
Stay alert: fake websites and WhatsApp messages claiming the 8123 code has reopened are scams. Always verify new SMS codes, payment amounts and registration deadlines from a current government notice on an official .gov.pk website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 8123 SMS code still working for ration registration?
No. The 8123 code belonged to the 2022 Ehsaas Rashan Riayat phase, and no government announcement has confirmed it as an active SMS registration code in 2026. Do not send your CNIC to 8123.
How much money does the CM Punjab Ration Card give?
Eligible cardholders receive Rs. 3,000 every month on a digital smart card for essential groceries such as flour, rice, sugar and ghee. Any unused balance carries forward to the next month.
Can BISP Kafalat beneficiaries also get the Ration Card?
No. BISP Kafalat recipients are excluded from the Ration Card to prevent double-dipping. You cannot receive both food subsidies at the same time.