Distribution of ration under PM’s Ramadan relief package worth subsidy of Rs 7.5 biln begins
ISLAMABAD, March 07 (SABAH): Distribution of ration under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Ramadan relief package worth subsidy of 7.5 billion rupees has begun to provide respite to deserving families during the holy month.
The distribution will continue till the night before Eid-ul-Fitr. Nineteen items including flour, rice, pulses, ghee, edible oil, sugar, milk are being provided through 4,775 utility stores to around forty million families.
Chairing a high level meeting in Islamabad on Thursday regarding the Ramadan package and Benazir Income Support Porgramme, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said no compromise will be made on quality of edibles being distributed under the package.
He said strict monitoring will be done to ensure that no deserving person faces any problem during the distribution of package.
The Prime Minister directed the officials concerned to increase counters and establish mobile units for further easing the distribution of package, especially cheap flour.
He said strict action will be taken against hoarders involved in creating artificial price hike of essential items.
He said a countrywide awareness campaign should be launched so that maximum deserving families can be benefited.
The system should be made more integrated and effective for immediate redressal of the complaints of the people who came to get the package.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also directed the relevant officials to distribute quarterly installment of ten thousand and five hundred rupees to deserving people under the Benazir Income Support Program and include an additional two thousand rupees per family for the deserving people of Balochistan.
Meanwhile the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday unanimously approved the Ramadan Nigehban Relief Package 2024.
The provincial cabinet met in Lahore today with first-ever female Chief Minister of Punjab in the chair.
As part of this comprehensive relief initiative, over 6.5 million relief hampers will be distributed directly to deserving individuals at their doorsteps. Each hamper will include essential items such as a 10 kg bag of flour, 2 kg of rice, sugar, edible oil, and chickpea flour (besan).
Emphasizing the importance of quality control, the Chief Minister entrusted the responsibility of ensuring the high standard of daily use items to district administrations and the Punjab Food Authority. The transportation and distribution of relief hampers will be closely monitored through a dedicated App and Dashboard developed by the Punjab IT Board, with strict oversight to ensure fair and transparent distribution.
In her directives, the Chief Minister underscored the need for vigilant monitoring against profiteering and hoarding activities, emphasizing the importance of providing training to price control magistrates to effectively curb such practices.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced 22.5 billion rupees Ramadan package to provide relief to people of the province.
Chairing a meeting in Karachi on Thursday, he also accorded approval of providing five thousand rupees cash to sixty percent population of province with minimum wage.