ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The federal and Punjab governments have launched massive Ramazan relief packages worth Rs50 billion, aiming to provide direct financial assistance and subsidized essential goods to millions of deserving families across the country.
Federal Government’s Rs20bn Package
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a Rs20 billion relief package to support four million families.
- Each beneficiary family will receive Rs5,000 through digital wallets within the first 10 days of Ramazan.
- The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), NADRA, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and tech companies collaborated to ensure transparent distribution.
- The initiative marks a significant increase from last year’s Rs7 billion package.
- The PM praised foreign partners for their contributions and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and recovering public funds.
Punjab Government’s Rs30bn Package
- Punjab’s Rs30 billion package will provide direct cash assistance to three million families, ensuring financial aid reaches them at their doorsteps.
- 80 Ramazan bazaars have been set up across the province, offering subsidized essential commodities, including flour, sugar, ghee, pulses, vegetables, and fruits.
- Lahore has 10 bazaars, Rawalpindi 8, while Faisalabad, Jhelum, and Nankana each have 3 bazaars.
- Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari denied rumors of subsidy withdrawals and assured that prices remain significantly lower than the open market.
Public Response & Impact
- The public has welcomed both initiatives, with Ramazan bazaars witnessing high footfall due to their affordability.
- The Punjab government dismissed reports of inflated prices as false propaganda, reiterating its commitment to providing relief with dignity.
These packages aim to ease financial burdens during Ramazan while ensuring a transparent and effective distribution system for relief funds and subsidized goods.
