Kisan Card registration is how farmers in Punjab apply for the CM Punjab Kisan Card, which gives an interest-free loan for seeds, fertiliser and other farm inputs. This guide explains whether registration is open in 2026, how to apply by SMS to 8070, what happens after you apply, and how much you can get.
The Kisan Card, officially the Chief Minister’s Punjab Kissan Card, is run by the Punjab Agriculture Department, and the card itself is issued by the Bank of Punjab. The department posts its notices, dealer lists and adverts on its official Kisan Card page.
Is Kisan Card registration open in 2026?
As of September 2026, the Kisan Card programme is running. The Agriculture Department’s latest advert calls it Phase 2, lists it under Punjab’s development programme for 2026-27, and says it aims to reach 1 million farmers. According to APP’s report on the Punjab budget in June 2026, Rs 251 billion in interest-free loans reached 825,000 farmers in 2025-26, and 99 percent was repaid.
For new applicants, the Agriculture Department’s Kisan Card guidance gives one way to apply: an SMS to 8070. We found no official notice in 2026 of a new registration window, a closing date, or an online application form. Before you apply, call the Agriculture helpline 0800-17000 and ask whether new applications are being taken in your district.
Do not worry too much about phase numbers. The government uses the word in more than one way: its April 2026 repayment drive called that loan round “Phase 3”, while the 2026-27 advert calls the programme “Phase 2”. What matters for you is the eligibility rules and the 8070 format below.
Before you apply: four things to check
Most failed applications fail on one of these. Check them first:
- Your land is on record with PLRA. The Punjab Land Records Authority record is how the system checks your land. Our Punjab land record guide shows how to look it up.
- You own 1 to 25 acres. This is the land range in the Agriculture Department’s Phase 2 advert. When the card launched in 2024, the upper limit was 12.5 acres.
- Your mobile SIM is registered on your own CNIC. Send your CNIC number to 668 to see which SIMs are on it. Our CNIC SIM check guide explains how.
- Your CNIC is valid and you are not a loan defaulter. Renew an expired CNIC first. The Bank of Punjab also looks at your credit history.
Our Kisan Card eligibility guide explains each rule and how to fix common problems.
How to do Kisan Card registration by SMS
You can do this on any mobile phone. You do not need the internet or an app.
Step 1: Use the right phone
Open the SMS app on the phone that has the SIM registered on your own CNIC.
Step 2: Type the message
Type PKC, one space, then your 13-digit CNIC with no dashes:
PKC 3520212345671
The number above is only a sample. Use your own CNIC.
Step 3: Send it to 8070
Send the message to 8070. The Agriculture Department says you should then get a confirmation message that your application was submitted. Keep that message.
What happens after you apply
Your application then goes through checks. The Agriculture Department describes these steps:
- Land check: PLRA verifies your land record.
- Identity check: NADRA verifies your CNIC details.
- Card-ready message: you get an SMS or a call when your card is ready.
- Collection: you go to your nearest Assistant Director (Extension) Agriculture office to collect the card, and complete biometric verification with Bank of Punjab staff there.
The checks take time, so hearing nothing for a while does not always mean a problem. Our Kisan Card check online guide explains how to follow up.
How to activate your Kisan Card
After you collect the card, activate it by calling the Bank of Punjab’s Government Initiatives Helpline, 042-111-333-267. The Agriculture Department says to call from the mobile number registered in your name. The bank will ask for:
- Your CNIC number
- Your name and date of birth
- Your mother’s name
- Your birth district
- The 16-digit number on your Kisan Card
Only share these on a call you make yourself to the official number. Never give your PIN or an OTP to anyone.
How much you can get in 2026
The loan limit has gone up since the card was launched. You will see different figures online because some government pages still show the 2024 numbers.
| When | Maximum loan | Per acre | Land range | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 launch | Rs 150,000 (counted on up to 5 acres) | Rs 30,000 | 1 to 12.5 acres | Bank of Punjab and Punjab Portal pages |
| 2025 | Rs 300,000 per crop season | Not stated | 1 to 25 acres | Agriculture Department guidance |
| Phase 2, 2026-27 | Rs 360,000 | Rs 30,000 | 1 to 25 acres | Agriculture Department advert |
As of September 2026, go by the Phase 2 figures, and treat them as correct only as of this date. At Rs 30,000 per acre, 5 acres works out to Rs 150,000, and 12 acres or more reaches the Rs 360,000 maximum. The Bank of Punjab sets your actual limit, so confirm it with the bank or on 0800-17000.
How the loan is used and repaid
The card works like a bank card with a set limit. In the Agriculture Department’s 2025 guidance, the limit was split like this:
- 30 percent can be withdrawn as cash for general farm costs. The 2026 advert repeats this 30 percent cash facility.
- 20 percent is for diesel at registered PSO pumps.
- 50 percent is for seeds, fertiliser and pesticides from registered dealers.
The department publishes district lists of registered dealers and PSO pumps on its Kisan Card page.
Loans are available for both the Rabi and Kharif seasons, and the 2025 guidance gave up to 6 months to repay. 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 once you clear your dues, the next interest-free loan is credited to your card within 24 hours. In 2026 the department also held lucky draws, with prizes such as tractors, for farmers who repaid on time.
Common Kisan Card registration mistakes
- Wrong format. It must be PKC, a space, then 13 digits, with no dashes.
- SIM not in your name. A SIM on a relative’s CNIC will not match you.
- Land not in PLRA. Get your record entered or corrected at an Arazi Record Center first.
- Expired CNIC. Renew it with NADRA before you apply.
- Using an unofficial website. We found no official online Kisan Card form. Websites that ask for your CNIC to “register” you are not the government.
Registration is free
The Agriculture Department says there is no processing fee to apply. To stay safe:
- Nobody can add your name or speed up approval for money.
- The government does not ask for an easypaisa or JazzCash fee to confirm your application.
- Never share an OTP, PIN or your card number with anyone who calls you.
- Private “Kisan Card portals” are not official, even if they use government pictures.
If someone asks you for money, report it through the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal.
Contact
- Official page: agripunjab.gov.pk/kissan-card
- Apply: SMS PKC, a space and your CNIC to 8070
- Agriculture helpline: 0800-17000, or the short code 1063 (both listed on the Punjab government’s helplines page)
- Bank of Punjab Government Initiatives Helpline: 042-111-333-267, for card activation and card help
- In person: Kisan Card help desks at Assistant Director (Extension) Agriculture offices
Related support
If you farm in Punjab, these may also help:
- CM Punjab Livestock Card, interest-free loans 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
- Punjab land record online, to check your land in PLRA
- 8070 SMS check, what the 8070 code does and does not do
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 Punjab Agriculture Department or the Bank of Punjab. We cannot register you, approve a loan or issue a card. We only explain how the official process works so you can do it yourself.