Pakistan, July 5 -- The Punjab government has launched a landmark ration card subsidy programme to assist 1.2 million low-income families across the province. Under this scheme, each registered household will receive a monthly ration subsidy of Rs3,000 to meet their basic food needs. Punjab Labour Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar called it the biggest welfare initiative in the province's history, focusing primarily on the labour class.

The programme will be rolled out in phases, beginning in seven districts: Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rawalpindi, Kasur, and Lahore. New districts will be added every month, and the full distribution is expected to be completed within five to six months. A central database will help...