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The Punjab government has announced a significant increase in the Christmas grant for deserving Christian families, allocating a total of Rs 150 million. As part of this initiative, each eligible family will receive Rs 15,000, benefiting approximately 10,000 families across the province.
The government raised the grant budget from Rs 50 million to Rs 150 million to ensure a broader distribution of assistance. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has directed district administrations to ensure the smooth and efficient distribution of grants to eligible Christian families. The process will begin after the Punjab Cabinet approves the allocation, with district administrations tasked with verifying the data and submitting it for final approval.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, the Leader for Minorities, highlighted the Punjab government’s inclusive approach, noting that this grant distribution represents a historic effort to support minority communities. He recalled that, for the first time, the Punjab government distributed Rs 15,000 to 1,400 Hindu families during Diwali, with a total grant of Rs 21 million. This initiative followed special instructions from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and marked a significant departure from previous years when no grants were allocated for Diwali.
Arora also shared that the grant for Sikh families on Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary has been increased. Previously, the government provided grants to 300 families, but this year, the number has increased to 800, with each family receiving Rs 15,000.
