Get the Sila-e-Fun Pension: Rs 5,000 a Month for Elderly Artists in Punjab

Short answer: Sila-e-Fun is a Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) pension of Rs 5,000 a month for artists above 50 who earn under Rs 35,000 a month and have 25 years in their field. It covers all 36 districts. The PSPA page publishes no form, so start with the 1221 helpline.

Think of a harmonium player who spent thirty years at weddings and radio stations and now cannot lift the instrument. No pension, no savings and a rent bill. Punjab has a programme for exactly this person, and it carries a name most artists have never heard. We read the PSPA's page for it, then compared it with the Arts Council's fund that closes on 15 October.

Sila-e-Fun pays Rs 5,000 a month to needy elderly artists

The PSPA calls Sila-e-Fun an unconditional cash transfer for elderly and financially vulnerable artists who have made a notable contribution. Unconditional means no task or test in return. The page says the pension is Rs 5,000 a month, across all 36 districts of Punjab.

The authority's stated aim is dignified social assistance for poor elderly artists, so they depend less on relatives and neighbours. The programme page is undated. Check the amount before you rely on it.

Who counts as an artist under the programme

The page names artists, writers, poets and media persons. It lists film, television, literature, poetry, journalism, theatre, music and painting as examples. So a journalist, a poet or a painter can qualify, as well as a singer or an actor.

The test is the field and the years in it. You need 25 years of experience and a notable contribution to that field. The page does not say what proof it accepts, so gather what you can: old contracts, certificates, programme notes, cuttings and letters from a station, a press club or a senior colleague.

The PSPA page does not publish an application form

We found no form, portal or deadline for Sila-e-Fun on the PSPA site. The page explains the programme but not the way in. Rather than guess, we point to what the authority does publish: the 1221 helpline, a landline and an email.

1. Check the four conditions: age above 50, income below Rs 35,000, 25 years of work, residence in Punjab.
2. Collect proof of your work and a copy of your CNIC.
3. Call the PSPA social protection helpline on 1221 and ask how to register for Sila-e-Fun.
4. Write down the name of the person, the date and any reference number.
5. If you are told to visit an office, ask for the address in writing, or by SMS.

The PSPA's landline is +92 42 99231758 and its email is info@pspa.punjab.gov.pk, both from the website footer. The home page describes 1221 as a 24 hour call centre for eligibility questions and complaints.

Do not mix it up with the Arts Council fund

The Punjab Arts Council's Artist Support Fund is a different scheme from a different department. It has an income limit of Rs 40,000, a lower age for women and a form with a deadline. Our guide to the Punjab Artist Support Fund 2026-27 covers it, and it closes on 15 October 2026.

The two schemes use different limits, so they are not obviously the same list. We could not confirm from either page whether an artist can receive both, or whether one feeds the other. Apply to the Arts Council by the deadline anyway if you qualify. A missed date costs a year.

If you also care for a disabled family member, the Punjab Himmat Card and the Humqadam programme are separate help for them. An older person without a pension can also read how the senior citizen card works.

Prepare your papers before you call

Have these ready before you phone: your CNIC, your age proof, a list of the years you worked and where, and two or three pieces of proof. The more concrete the proof, the shorter the call. Say your field, your district and your monthly income plainly.

Be exact about income. The limit is Rs 35,000 a month, and a wrong answer gives the office a reason to refuse you. If your income is irregular, say what an ordinary month looks like and what a poor one looks like.

Tell a younger relative what you are doing. Many elderly artists lose weeks because nobody at home can follow up a call or read a text message from the office.

The page says nothing about the payment counter. Other PSPA programmes pay through branchless banking agents after a fingerprint check, so expect the same, and ask which agent is nearest. Count your cash before you leave.

Common questions

How much is the Sila-e-Fun pension?

The PSPA programme page says Rs 5,000 a month. The page is undated, so confirm the figure on the helpline.

Who is eligible for Sila-e-Fun?

Artists above 50 with a monthly income below Rs 35,000 and 25 years of experience in their field, anywhere in Punjab, according to the PSPA page.

Can a poet or journalist apply for Sila-e-Fun?

Yes. The page names artists, writers, poets and media persons, and lists literature, poetry and journalism among the fields.

Where is the Sila-e-Fun application form?

We could not find one on the PSPA website. Call 1221 and ask how to register.

Is Sila-e-Fun the same as the Artist Support Fund?

The Artist Support Fund comes from the Punjab Arts Council and has its own form and a deadline of 15 October 2026. Sila-e-Fun comes from the PSPA with different limits.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on Sunday 11 October 2026. We read the Punjab Social Protection Authority's Sila-e-Fun Program page and its home page for the helpline notice and contact details. We did not call the helpline, so we cannot say how it handles artists' queries. The programme page carries no date, and its amounts and limits may have changed.