CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Launched Digital Payment System for Daily Wages Laborers

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has made a significant shift for the daily wage employees in the province. On May 26, 2025, she launched a digital payment system for almost 10,000 daily-wage staff working within the Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Department. This new system seeks to substitute cash payments with mobile-based digital payments, introducing transparency, speed, and equity to the wage process.

Who Will Benefit?

The program aims at forest guards, daily wage laborers, drivers, and other short-term employees employed under government departments. Such workers tend to get delayed in receiving payment or are paid less through middlemen or opaque systems. Through this digital solution, payments will be received directly into the worker’s mobile banking account.

The minimum requirements for registration are a CNIC, a registered mobile number, and a mobile wallet account. All employees in all districts of Punjab are covered, with the initial rollouts taking place in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.

How the New System Operates

The payment process is easy but safe. Labourers initially must register by presenting their CNIC and biometric details at local Forestry Department offices or mobile registration camps. Subsequently, Bank of Punjab (BOP) facilitates them to open mobile banking accounts. Payments are remitted electronically and authenticated through biometric data, with the correct person getting the cash.

Employees can draw money from ATMs, pay using agent facilities, or purchase goods and services directly from their mobile wallets. In case of any problem, they can approach the PITB helpline at 0800-09400 for assistance.

Major Advantages of the Digital System

This shift to digital has numerous positives. Below are some of the major benefits:

Transparency: As the system applies biometric verifications, it is extremely difficult to fraud. All payments are traceable.
Timely Wages: Laborers don’t wait for their wages anymore. Money is transferred fast after labor.
Security: Online transfers are more secure than cash, which can be stolen or lost.
Financial Inclusion: Bank accounts are being availed by many employees for the first time. This allows them to save and enjoy future financial services.
Cost-Effective: The government is able to save money and time as the system minimizes paperwork and manual efforts.

Conquering the Challenges

As with any new system, this one has a few challenges as well. Workers might be unaware of how to operate mobile apps or even know digital banking. To assist with that, the government is operating their training workshops and mobile support vans.

In far-flung regions where internet connectivity is poor, offline SMS is used for confirmation, while agent networks facilitate withdrawals and payments. In account registration, NADRA and banking personnel are collaborating to simplify the process.

Why Punjab’s Workers Care About This

This move is more than a payment adjustment—it is about respect and equity. The backbone of Punjab’s workforce comprises daily wage workers. They have been working in forests, fields, and far-flung areas for years without a formal mechanism to assure them of their pay. This new digital approach ensures everyone gets what they deserve—no deductions, no delays, no confusion.

Maryam Nawaz’s program demonstrates a strong desire to enhance the lives of workers. It is part of her larger digital governance plans, including the e-Taxi Program 2025 and GIS-based forest monitoring. This system will also enable the government to monitor payments more effectively, such that corruption and embezzlement become impossible.

Future Plans

The online payment scheme is only the starting point. If it is successful in the Forestry Department, other government departments may follow the same pattern. These can range from agriculture to municipal services and beyond. The system can be scaled up and may provide service to hundreds of thousands of employees in Punjab soon.

There are talks about incorporating insurance, pension, and emergency loan functions into these mobile wallets, providing employees with further financial security.

Final Thoughts

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s unveiling of the digital payment system is a huge victory for Punjab’s daily wage workers. It brings security, trust, and dignity to their hard work. For the first time ever, these workers will be able to receive full wages into their bank or mobile accounts without facing long queues or confusing systems.

This step is not about technology—it’s about justice. It makes sure that all workers, regardless of how far-flung or impoverished, are respected and treated fairly. And that is a genuine step in the right direction for Punjab.

CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Launched Digital Payment System for Daily Wages Laborers