For a small farmer in Punjab, the hardest part of a crop season often comes right at the start. Seed, fertiliser and pesticides must be paid for before a single plant comes out of the ground, and many growers end up borrowing from middlemen at high cost. The CM Punjab Kisan Card, also spelled Kissan Card, was launched to ease that pressure. Run by the Punjab Agriculture Department with the Bank of Punjab, it gives eligible farmers interest-free seasonal credit through a card, so they can buy inputs on time and repay after the season.
This guide explains registration: who can register, what you need, and how the SMS method works.
What the Kisan Card is, in simple words
The Kisan Card is a credit card for farmers, not a cash handout. Once issued by the Bank of Punjab, you can use it during the crop season to buy seed, fertiliser and pesticides from registered dealers. What you spend is credit that you repay, but it is interest-free — the main benefit of the scheme. Instead of expensive informal loans at sowing time, you use the card and settle the amount within the season.
The programme has been running since 2024, and more than 530,000 cards have been issued so far, so bank branches, agriculture offices and dealers are already part of an established, working system.
Who can register for the card
The scheme is designed for small farmers who own roughly 1 to 12.5 acres of agricultural land in Punjab. Your land ownership is not taken on your word alone: it is verified through the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), so the name and holding recorded there must match the person applying.
You also need a valid CNIC, because your identity is verified through NADRA and biometric checks before the Bank of Punjab issues the card. A mobile phone is essential for the SMS route, and there is one detail many applicants miss: the SMS must be sent from the mobile number that is registered against your own CNIC. If you send it from someone else’s number, or from a SIM that is not in your name, the process can stall at the very first step.
If your land record has an old spelling of your name or a wrong CNIC number, sort that out first. Most delays come from record mismatches, not from the application itself.
What to keep ready before you register
Registration is free. If anyone asks you for money to “get your name entered” or speed up your card, walk away and use official channels instead.
Before you start, keep these things with you: your original CNIC, the mobile phone carrying the SIM registered against that CNIC, and basic details of your agricultural land in Punjab. Go yourself rather than sending someone else, since NADRA and biometric verification can only be done for the applicant in person.
How to register: by SMS or in person
Registering by SMS to 8070
The quickest way to start is by text message. Open the messaging app on the phone that carries your CNIC-registered SIM. Type PKC, leave a space, and then type your CNIC number. Send that message to 8070. Written as a pattern, it looks like this: PKC [space] your CNIC number, sent to 8070.
Double-check the CNIC number before you press send — a single wrong digit means the message is checked against the wrong record. After sending, wait for the response and follow the instructions that come back. Keep the phone and SIM active, because follow-up about your application will come to the number linked with your CNIC.
Remember: sending the SMS starts your registration; it does not mean a card has been issued on the spot. Your land record still has to be verified through PLRA, and your identity must clear NADRA and biometric verification before the Bank of Punjab issues the card.
Applying at a bank branch or agriculture office
Not every farmer is comfortable doing this by phone, and you do not have to be. You can also apply at a branch of the Bank of Punjab or through an agriculture office. This route suits farmers who think their land record may have a problem, who have changed their mobile number, or who want a person in front of them to confirm everything is in order.
At the branch or office, staff can guide you through the application, check your CNIC, and complete the biometric verification. Ask them to confirm two things before you leave: that your land details have been matched with the PLRA record, and what the next step is for collecting your card. Whichever route you choose, the checks are the same: PLRA for land, NADRA and biometrics for identity, and the Bank of Punjab as the issuing bank.
After registration: verification, the card, and its validity
Once verification is complete and your card is issued, it is valid for one crop season, which is roughly six months. It is not a one-time benefit that ends there. After you repay the amount you used during the season, the card renews for the next season. That is how the cycle is meant to work: use the credit for inputs, harvest and sell your crop, repay, and start the next season with the facility available again.
Treat the first season carefully: use the card only for the inputs it is meant for, keep your dealer receipts, and plan your repayment from the start of the season. If your application runs into a problem, check the basics first: Is the SIM in your name? Does your PLRA land record match your CNIC? Those two checks solve most problems. For anything beyond that, ask at a Bank of Punjab branch or your local agriculture office, where staff can see your application inside the system.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any fee to register for the Punjab Kisan Card?
No. Registration is completely free. Do not pay any agent or middleman who promises to register you or speed up your card.
Can I register by SMS from any mobile number?
No. Send the SMS to 8070 from the mobile number registered against your own CNIC, in the format PKC, a space, then your CNIC number. Using another person’s number can stop the process.
How long does the Kisan Card stay valid?
The card is valid for one crop season, roughly six months. After you repay the amount used in that season, it renews for the next season.
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