Punjab Kissan Card Scheme – Eligibility & How to Apply
Overview
The CM Punjab Kissan Card initiative, launched by the Punjab Agriculture Department in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), offers a unified digital platform connecting multiple departments such as PLRA, PMD, NADRA, and Bank of Punjab. This innovative program provides farmers with a government-issued card that enables interest-free loans for all agricultural needs — from sowing seeds to harvesting crops.
The card is valid for six months and allows farmers to borrow up to Rs. 150,000 per season, with a maximum limit of Rs. 30,000 per acre. It targets landowners holding between 1 and 12.5 acres of farmland. The program’s budget is approximately Rs. 9.5 billion per season, designed to increase crop yields and overall productivity. Additionally, it supports financial inclusion by sending free SMS notifications to farmers about their loan transactions.
Farmers also benefit from a one-month grace period after the six-month term to repay or settle any outstanding loans, providing them with essential financial flexibility.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any farmer who owns land up to 12.5 acres can join.
- You need to have a mobile SIM registered under your own CNIC that’s been verified by PMD.
- Farmers who have land and whose records you can find in PLRA can get a loan.
Major Components
- Farmers can sign up for the scheme online.
- There’ll be a digital verification process that links the farmers’ registration info held by PITB with the PLRA records.
- After you sign up and your land is verified, and you get OK from NADRA, PMD, and eECIB, you’ll get a Chief Minister Kissan Card issued by the Bank of Punjab.
- Initially, they’ll offer loans to 500,000 farmers on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Each farmer can get a maximum loan of Rs. 150,000 for up to 5 acres at Rs. 30,000 per acre.
- The loan can only be used to buy agricultural supplies like fertilizer and seeds.
How to Apply
To register, just text pkc followed by your CNIC number, and send it to 8070.
