A small shopkeeper often needs only a modest amount to restock, repair equipment, or meet a sudden order, but a bank loan can feel slow and full of paperwork. The CM Punjab Asaan Karobar Card was created for this gap. It gives small business owners in Punjab an interest-free digital credit facility of up to Rs 1 million, without collateral, for genuine business use.
This guide explains the card, who can get it, how it differs from the larger Asaan Karobar Finance scheme, and the important status warning for new applicants. Read the status section carefully before you start, because new card registrations were reported stopped on the official portal in September 2026.
What Is the Asaan Karobar Card?
The Asaan Karobar Card is a Punjab government business support scheme run by the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), with the Bank of Punjab as the banking partner and the Punjab Information Technology Board managing the digital portal. It was launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on 16 January 2025.
The card works like a revolving digital credit facility. Approved business owners can use it through digital channels for business purchases and payments, and repay it in instalments over the card term. The government pays the markup to the bank, so the borrower pays 0% interest on the approved facility, subject to the scheme terms.
Run by: Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC)
Bank partner: Bank of Punjab
Loan limit: Up to Rs 1 million
Interest: 0% markup for the borrower
Term reported: Up to 3 years, with a grace period in the early months
Many applicants confuse the card with the larger finance scheme. They share a name, but they are different products.
Scheme
Loan size
Best for
Asaan Karobar Card
Up to Rs 1 million
Small shops, traders, home businesses
Asaan Karobar Finance
Rs 1 million and above
Larger SMEs, expansion, machinery
If you need a small working-capital limit for daily business needs, the card is the relevant product. If you need a large term loan for expansion, the finance scheme is the relevant route, and it has its own age and business conditions.
Who Is Eligible for the Card?
For the Asaan Karobar Card, applicants must generally meet all of these conditions:
Age: 21 to 57 years old.
Residence: Pakistani national and resident of Punjab, with a business located in Punjab.
CNIC and mobile: Valid CNIC and a mobile SIM registered in your own name.
Business: An existing business, or a workable planned business, in Punjab.
Credit history: Clean credit history, with no loan default, plus a credit and psychometric assessment.
Tax registration: Registration with FBR or the Punjab Revenue Authority, as required under the scheme terms.
One application: Only one application per person or business.
Priority is reported for women, youth, differently-abled entrepreneurs, and rural business owners, but priority does not remove the basic eligibility checks.
How to Apply When Registration Is Open
Follow these steps only when the portal shows that new registrations are open:
Step 1: Open the official portal, akc.punjab.gov.pk, and read the instructions page first.
Step 2: Create your account with your CNIC and your own mobile number, and complete the application form honestly.
Step 3: Give your business details, and complete the credit and psychometric assessment.
Step 4: Wait for bank verification. Do not pay anyone who promises approval.
Step 5: If approved, use the limit only for business purposes. Personal spending and entertainment transactions are blocked under the scheme rules.
For official help, the Government of Punjab helpline reported for this scheme is 1786.
Important Status Warning
As of September 2026, the official portal was reported to show that registration of new card applications had stopped. That means you may not be able to submit a new card application right now, even if old guides still say “apply online”.
Do not use look-alike websites that claim to reopen registration for a fee. Check the official portal itself for any new round, and keep your CNIC, business record, and tax registration ready so you can apply quickly if it reopens.
Conclusion
The CM Punjab Asaan Karobar Card offers small Punjab businesses an interest-free facility of up to Rs 1 million, for applicants aged 21 to 57 with a valid CNIC, a Punjab business, and a clean credit record. It is a business credit product, not a cash grant, and it must be used for business purposes only. Before you apply, check the official portal for the current registration status, because new registrations were reported stopped in September 2026, and use helpline 1786 for official guidance.
FAQs
Is the Asaan Karobar Card interest-free? Yes. The government pays the markup to the Bank of Punjab, so the borrower pays 0% interest under the scheme terms.
Can I use the card for personal spending? No. The limit is for business use only, and non-business transactions are blocked.
Can I apply right now? Check the official portal first. New card registrations were reported stopped in September 2026, so availability can change.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
