The Dhee Rani Program is the Punjab government’s collective marriage program for daughters from poor families. It arranges the wedding and gives the bride a cash gift on an ATM card, so that a family’s poverty does not stop a daughter from marrying with dignity. This guide explains who qualifies, what the bride receives, where the new round stands in September 2026, and how to apply.
The program is run by the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Department, Punjab. Its official portal is cmp.punjab.gov.pk, built by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), and its helpline is 1312. Applying is free.
What is the Dhee Rani Program?
“Dhee Rani” means a beloved daughter. The program’s full name on the portal is the Punjab Dhee Rani Programme (Collective Marriages Programme), approved by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Couples are married together at a group ceremony in their district or tehsil, with the government covering the arrangements.
Applications first opened on 21 October 2024, and the first ceremony was held in Lahore on 11 January 2025. Here is what the portal’s own dashboards show:
| Year | Weddings held | Ceremonies |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2,992 | 48 |
| 2025-26 (October 2025 to February 2026) | 4,962 | 34 |
| Total since January 2025 | 7,954 |
Dhee Rani Program status in September 2026
A new round has started, but no weddings have been announced yet:
- In July 2026, PITB’s Maryam Ko Batayn app added Dhee Rani as a new program. This is the Chief Minister’s helpline app, and its short code is 1000.
- On 15 September 2026, the portal’s dashboard for these app applications showed more than 7,500 applications, over 4,100 sent for home verification, and none approved yet.
- The Register button on cmp.punjab.gov.pk still works, but official pages do not say whether new portal registrations count for this round.
- No last date and no wedding dates for the new round have been published.
So before you apply, call 1312 and ask which channel is taking applications for the current round. Ignore blogs that show a fixed “last date”. Past deadlines were set and extended by the department, not by any website.
Dhee Rani Program eligibility
The official portal lists these conditions:
- The bride is destitute, an orphan, a person with a disability, or the daughter of a person with a disability
- She is 18 to 40 years old
- She is domiciled in Punjab
- Her rishta is confirmed. Groom details are compulsory in the form.
- She is not already married. The FAQ says not to apply if the nikah has already been done.
- An affidavit confirms that she is unmarried and willing to join the collective ceremony
A 2024 government release also said the program is for low-income families, with priority for orphans, destitute girls and daughters of disabled persons. No official source mentions a PSER or PMT score requirement.
A few more rules from the portal’s FAQ:
- The applicant can be the bride herself, or her father, mother or guardian. The groom cannot register.
- Girls of all religions can apply.
- Sisters can each apply, each with her own CNIC.
- The portal’s form refuses a CNIC that has already received a marriage grant from Bait-ul-Maal.
In August 2025, news reports said the program was extended to the daughters of prisoners. If the portal’s rules seem to exclude you, ask the helpline.
What the bride receives
As of September 2026, the portal says: “The bride will be given 200,000 rupees salami through an ATM card.” A Social Welfare Department release from February 2026 described each bride receiving an ATM card worth Rs 200,000, complete bridal attire and hospitality for guests.
The support has changed every year:
| Round | What the bride received |
|---|---|
| First ceremonies (early 2025) | Rs 100,000 on an ATM card, plus dowry gift items |
| From 19 April 2025 | Rs 121,000 on the card in place of the gift items, plus the Rs 100,000 |
| 2025-26 onwards | Rs 200,000 on the card, with no separate gift items |
The ATM card is given at the wedding, not before. According to the FAQ, 20 people in total from both families can attend, and the venue is in your own district or tehsil. The account is opened with the Bank of Punjab after biometric verification.
No separate amount has been announced for the 2026-27 round. Treat Rs 200,000 as the figure as of September 2026, and confirm it on 1312.
How selection works
The portal’s FAQ describes these steps after you apply:
- You get an SMS confirming your application.
- A Tehsil Verification Committee sends field officers to visit both the bride’s and the groom’s homes.
- The Program Steering Committee approves the list. If there are more applications than places, selection is by electronic ballot.
- You get an SMS confirming selection.
- The bride’s account is opened with the Bank of Punjab, with biometric verification, and NADRA certification is done.
- A final SMS gives the venue, date and time of the ceremony.
How to apply online, step by step
Step 1: Register on the portal
Open cmp.punjab.gov.pk and click Register. Enter your name, CNIC, district, tehsil, gender, mobile network, mobile number and email, and choose a password of at least 12 characters with capital and small letters, a number and a symbol.
Step 2: Confirm the OTP
The portal sends an OTP to your mobile. If the SMS does not come, the FAQ says you can choose a robo-call. If your number was ported from another network and the OTP never arrives, visit your district’s Deputy Director Social Welfare office to apply there.
Step 3: Fill in the form and upload documents
Log in, enter the bride’s and groom’s details, and upload the documents as PNG, JPG or JPEG files. You can edit the application only until it is marked for verification.
Step 4: Submit and track
Submit the form. You can track it by logging in, or on the portal’s Tracking page with the CNIC.
Other ways to apply
- The Maryam Ko Batayn app, or its short code 1000, used for the 2026 round
- The Deputy Director Social Welfare office in your district, which has a help desk
- The helpline 1312, for information and help with your application
Documents you need
- CNIC copies of the bride and the groom
- CNIC copies of the parents or guardian
- The groom’s full and correct details
- The affidavit about being unmarried and willing to join the ceremony. The FAQ says no stamp paper is required.
A 2024 government release said only verified NADRA CNIC copies are needed. If you do not have a CNIC yet, see our NADRA CNIC guide first.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying after the nikah. The program is for brides who are not yet married.
- Leaving out the groom’s details. The form does not move forward without them.
- Using a mobile number not in your name. OTP and selection messages come by SMS, so use a working number you control.
- Waiting for a fixed date. Registration windows open and close. Ask 1312 when the current round closes.
- Trusting old amounts. Blogs still show Rs 100,000 or gift lists from 2025.
Registration is free: stay safe from fraud
- No official source mentions any fee, and no stamp paper is required.
- Nobody can add your daughter’s name to the list for money. Selection is by verification and, if needed, a ballot.
- Never share an OTP or your portal password, even with someone who says they are from the department.
- Use only cmp.punjab.gov.pk, the Maryam Ko Batayn app, 1312 or your district Social Welfare office.
If someone asks for money, report it through the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal or the portal’s complaint page.
Contact
- Portal: cmp.punjab.gov.pk, with pages for tracking, complaints and district office locations
- Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal helpline: 1312, 8 am to 4 pm
- Maryam Ko Batayn: 1000
- In person: the Deputy Director Social Welfare office in your district
Related support
- Rehmat Card, a Zakat grant for widows and orphans
- Himmat Card, a stipend for persons with disabilities
- CM Punjab Minority Card, quarterly support for poor non-Muslim families
- Marriage certificate online, for registering the nikah and getting the computerised marriage registration certificate (MRC) from the Union Council
To see which other Punjab and federal programs your household may qualify for, try our free eligibility checker.
GoPunjab is an independent information website. We are not the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Department or PITB, and we cannot register you, select you or arrange a wedding. We only explain how the official process works so you can apply correctly yourself.