Kisan Card eligibility decides which farmers can get the CM Punjab Kisan Card and its interest-free loan for farm inputs. This guide explains who qualifies as of September 2026, the land limit, how much you can borrow, and how to fix the problems that most often stop an application.
The Kisan Card is run by the Punjab Agriculture Department and issued by the Bank of Punjab. The rules have changed since the card launched in 2024, so this guide gives the latest official figures and the older ones you may still see online. You can find the department’s notices on its official Kisan Card page.
Is Kisan Card registration open right now?
As of September 2026, the Kisan Card programme is running. The Agriculture Department’s latest advert calls it Phase 2, lists it in Punjab’s development programme for 2026-27, and says it aims to reach 1 million farmers. For new applicants, the department’s Kisan Card guidance still gives one way to apply: send PKC, a space and your CNIC to 8070.
We found no official notice in 2026 of a new registration window or a closing date. Before you apply, call the Agriculture helpline 0800-17000 to confirm that new applications are being taken. Our Kisan Card registration guide has the full steps.
Kisan Card eligibility: who qualifies
As of September 2026, the official sources we found set these conditions. You need to:
- Own 1 to 25 acres of agricultural land in Punjab. This is the range in the Agriculture Department’s Phase 2 advert.
- Have your land record with PLRA, the Punjab Land Records Authority, and keep it up to date.
- Hold a valid CNIC. If yours has expired, renew it before you apply.
- Use a mobile SIM registered on your own CNIC. The government checks that the number is registered in your name.
- Not be a loan defaulter. The Bank of Punjab checks your credit history.
- Be at least 18. The Bank of Punjab’s rules for the first cycle set this minimum age, with no upper age limit.
These checks are done digitally. PLRA verifies your land, NADRA verifies your CNIC, and the Bank of Punjab issues the card once you pass.
Land limits: 1 to 25 acres
The land limit is the rule that has changed most, which is why you will see different numbers on different websites:
| When | Land range | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 launch | 1 to 12.5 acres | Bank of Punjab and Punjab Portal pages |
| 2025 | 1 to 25 acres | Agriculture Department guidance |
| Phase 2, 2026-27 | 1 to 25 acres | Agriculture Department advert |
As of September 2026, go by the 1 to 25 acre range. The Punjab Portal’s Kisan Card page still shows the 2024 limit of 12.5 acres, so do not rely on that page for the current figure.
Owned or leased land? The official wording we found is about land you own. The Bank of Punjab’s first-cycle rules say the applicant must be a “land owner registered with PLRA”, and the Phase 2 advert speaks of land ownership from 1 to 25 acres. We found no official rule that covers tenants or leased land, so ask the Agriculture helpline before you rely on land you rent.
How much you can borrow
As of September 2026, the Agriculture Department’s Phase 2 advert lists:
- A maximum loan of Rs 360,000
- Rs 30,000 per acre
- A 30 percent cash withdrawal facility
On those figures, the loan grows with your land until it reaches the maximum. For example, 2 acres works out to Rs 60,000, 5 acres to Rs 150,000, and 12 acres or more reaches the Rs 360,000 cap. The Bank of Punjab sets your actual limit, so treat these as examples only.
The limit has risen over time. It was Rs 150,000 at launch in 2024 (Rs 30,000 per acre on up to 5 acres), and the Agriculture Department’s 2025 guidance gave up to Rs 300,000 per crop season.
How the loan works
The loan is interest-free, and it comes as a card with a set limit. In the Agriculture Department’s 2025 guidance:
- 30 percent could be withdrawn as cash for general farm costs
- 20 percent was for diesel at registered PSO pumps
- 50 percent was for seeds, fertiliser and pesticides from registered dealers
Loans are available for both the Rabi and Kharif seasons. The 2025 guidance gave up to 6 months to repay, and the department’s 2026 notices say you can repay at any Bank of Punjab branch, by interbank transfer or through Raast ID. APP reported in April 2026 that the next loan is credited within 24 hours of clearing your dues. So staying eligible also means repaying on time.
Common reasons farmers are not eligible
- Land record missing or out of date in PLRA
- Owning more than 25 acres, or less than 1 acre
- Mobile number not registered on your own CNIC
- An expired CNIC
- Being a loan defaulter, including an unpaid Kisan Card loan
- Not being a Punjab farmer
How to fix common eligibility problems
Most of these blockers can be fixed:
- Land record missing in PLRA. Check your record online, then visit your nearest Arazi Record Center to get it entered or corrected. Our Punjab land record guide explains how.
- SIM not in your name. Send your CNIC number to 668 to see which SIMs are on it. Then re-register the SIM on your own CNIC at your network’s franchise. Our CNIC SIM check guide shows the steps.
- Expired CNIC. Renew it with NADRA. Our NADRA CNIC guide explains the options.
- Loan default. Clear or settle the amount with the bank, then wait for your record to update before applying.
After fixing the problem, confirm on 0800-17000 that applications are open, then apply as normal.
Examples of who qualifies
- A farmer who owns 5 acres, on record in PLRA, with a SIM on their own CNIC, fits the rules. At Rs 30,000 per acre, that works out to Rs 150,000.
- A farmer who owns 18 acres would not have qualified in 2024, but fits the 1 to 25 acre range in Phase 2. The loan would be capped at the Rs 360,000 maximum.
- A tenant farmer with no land in their own name is not covered by the official rules we found. Ask the Agriculture helpline first.
- A farmer who is a loan defaulter would need to settle that first.
Registration is free
The Agriculture Department says there is no processing fee to apply, and the loan is interest-free. Nobody can make you eligible, add your name or speed up approval for money. Never share an OTP, PIN or card number with a caller. If someone asks you for a fee, report it through the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal.
Contact
- Agriculture helpline: 0800-17000
- Bank of Punjab Government Initiatives Helpline: 042-111-333-267
- In person: Kisan Card help desks at Assistant Director (Extension) Agriculture offices
- Official page: agripunjab.gov.pk/kissan-card
Related support
- Kisan Card registration, how to apply by SMS to 8070
- Kisan Card check online, status, balance and repayment
- CM Punjab Livestock Card, a separate loan card for farmers who keep animals: Phase 3 applications are closed as of September 2026
- Green Tractor Scheme, subsidised tractors for farmers: Phase 4 applications closed on 5 September 2026
To see what else your household may qualify for, try our free eligibility checker.
GoPunjab is an independent information website. We are not the Punjab Agriculture Department or the Bank of Punjab. We cannot register you or approve a loan. We only explain how the process works so you can apply correctly through the official channel.