Govt announces Rs1.6b Ramazan Relief package

Subsidies to be provided on 19 commodities

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the Ramazan Relief Package on Tuesday with subsidies worth over Rs1.6 billion on 19 commodities to provide relief to the general public during the upcoming holy month.

The approval was accorded at a meeting of the committee presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.



According to the finance ministry, these commodities include wheat flour (atta), sugar, ghee, oil, pulses (channa, masoor, moong washed and mash washed), white grams, besan, dates, rice, squashes, black tea, milk and spices.

The commodities will be sold at subsidised rates across Pakistan through outlets of Utility Stores Corporation (USC). In addition to the relief provided by the Ramazan Package, USC will also reduce prices on over 2,400 other items under different brands from 5 per cent to 10 per cent by obtaining special discount from vendors or suppliers and reducing its own profit margins.