Punjab has announced a major change for farmers who do not own the land they cultivate. On 28 October 2026, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz told a farmers’ meeting that steps are being taken to include tenant farmers and farmers cultivating leased land in the Punjab Kisan Card programme. Until now, the programme has been centred on landowners, so this announcement matters for thousands of families who farm rented land but have stayed outside the card system.
Detail
Information
Announcement date
28 October 2026
Announced by
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz
Programme
Punjab Kisan Card
New group covered
Tenant and lease farmers
Confirmed registration route
PKC + CNIC by SMS to 8070
Agriculture helpline
0800-17000
What Was Announced
Tenant inclusion: Steps are being taken to include tenant farmers and farmers cultivating leased land in the Kisan Card programme, the Chief Minister announced at the farmers’ meeting.
Previous position: The programme has so far been centred on landowners, which left many tenant farmers unable to benefit in the same way.
Why it matters: Tenant farmers buy seed, fertiliser and diesel for land they do not own, so access to interest-free input loans can ease their biggest seasonal cost.
Scale of the programme: The Chief Minister stated that over 1 million farmers benefit from the card and Rs400 billion has gone through it over two years.
Interest-free loan: The card gives an interest-free loan for agricultural inputs, with Rs30,000 per acre under the standard rate.
Higher DAP rate: For DAP fertiliser, the loan has been raised to Rs33,500 per acre, as announced on 28 October 2026.
Covered area: Subsidised loans of Rs17 billion have covered around 5 million acres, according to the Chief Minister’s statement.
Run by: The programme is run by the Agriculture Department Punjab with the Bank of Punjab as the banking partner.
How to Register Today
SMS route: Send PKC, a space, and your CNIC number by SMS to 8070 from your own registered mobile SIM.
Own SIM rule: The message must come from the farmer’s own registered SIM, so do not use another person’s number for registration.
Only confirmed route: Until the department publishes tenant rules, the 8070 SMS route is the only confirmed registration route for farmers.
Keep your CNIC ready: Keep your CNIC number ready before sending the message, and check that you have typed it correctly.
Repayment and Next Loan
Repayment channels: Pay the bill through a Bank of Punjab branch, an interbank transfer, or a Raast ID.
Next loan timing: The next interest-free loan is credited within 48 hours of repaying the bill, so timely payment keeps the cycle running.
Avoid delays: Late payment can delay the next loan, so pay before the due date shown on your bill.
Check your bill: Read the bill carefully for the amount due and the last date, and keep the payment receipt safe.
What Is Not Announced Yet
Tenant mechanism: The enrolment mechanism for tenant farmers has not been published yet, so no new tenant form or office process should be assumed.
Start date: No start date for tenant enrolment has been announced, and readers should wait for an official date.
Tenant documents: No tenant-specific documents have been listed, so no agent should demand extra papers in the name of tenant registration.
Watch official news: Farmers should watch Agriculture Department announcements for the tenant rules rather than trusting unofficial messages.
Safety and Helpline
Official helpline: For questions, call the Agriculture helpline on 0800-17000, which is the official number given for the programme.
No agent fee: Do not pay any agent who promises Kisan Card registration, because no such fee has been announced.
Official portal: Check updates on the official Agriculture Department portal at agripunjab.gov.pk and ignore unofficial lists.
Protect your CNIC: Never share your CNIC number or SMS code with strangers, and send the 8070 message only from your own SIM.
Item
Detail
Loan per acre
Rs30,000
Loan for DAP per acre
Rs33,500
Next loan after repayment
Within 48 hours
Registration SMS
PKC + CNIC to 8070
Helpline
0800-17000
Tenant start date
Not announced yet
Conclusion
The decision to include tenant and lease farmers is an important step, but it is only the first step. Until the Agriculture Department publishes the tenant enrolment mechanism, start date and documents, farmers should use the confirmed 8070 route, pay bills on time, and follow only official announcements. That patience will protect tenant farmers from fraud and keep them ready when enrolment opens.
FAQs
Can tenant farmers apply for the Kisan Card now? The inclusion of tenant farmers was announced on 28 October 2026, but the tenant enrolment mechanism and start date have not been published yet.
How do farmers register for the Kisan Card? Send PKC and your CNIC number by SMS to 8070 from your own registered SIM.
What is the loan amount per acre? The loan is Rs30,000 per acre, raised to Rs33,500 per acre for DAP fertiliser.
When is the next loan credited? The next interest-free loan is credited within 48 hours of repaying the bill.
What is the official helpline? The Agriculture helpline is 0800-17000.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of plcpunjab.pk, covering Punjab government schemes including the Livestock Card, eligibility, registration and latest updates, with information verified from official sources for readers across Punjab.
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