Punjab offers Rs8b Ramazan Package

Over 300 bazaars to provide eatables at prices set last year

LAHORE:

Punjab government has launched a Ramazan Package to provide relief to the people of the province during the month.

On the directives of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, an amount of Rs8 billion has been allocated for the Ramazan Package.

Chief Minister Buzdar announced on Sunday that the people of the province would be provided edible items in the Ramazan Bazaars at the prices set last year. A 10kg flour bag will be sold in the bazaars for Rs375, while 13 food items, including potato, onion and tomato, will be available at the Agri Fair Price Shops at reduced prices as compared to the local markets, he added.

The chief minister highlighted that subsidy amounting to Rs1.25 billion would be provided for the provision of vegetables, fruits and pulses at discounted rates in the Ramazan Bazaars.

Read: Ramazan likely to begin from April 3: Met office

He stated that 317 Ramazan Bazaars would function across the province from Shaban 25. The timings of the special bazaars will be from 9am till Iftar. Chief Minister Buzdar emphasised that the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government had awarded a special package to provide relief to the need y segment of the society during the holy month.

He outlined that an effective monitoring system had been chalked out in order to ensure benefits of the Ramazan Package to the common people.

The chief minister stressed that the whole allocated amount would be spent on serving the deserving people, vowing to himself monitor the implementation of the Ramazan Package.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Pakistan Vinaspati Manufacturers Association called on Punjab Industry and Commerce Secretary Dr. Wasif Khurshid at Civil Secretariat and discussed issues related to availability and prices of ghee and cooking oil in the markets and Ramazan Bazaars.

The producers agreed to provide ghee at Rs10 per kilogramme less rate that the market in the 317 Ramazan Bazaars in different districts.

The provincial secretary said that availability of ghee and cooking oil in the markets and Ramazan Bazaars will be ensured during the coming month. Ghee will be available at Rs10 per kg less than the market rate. The delegation assured the official of availability of ghee and cooking oil in the markets and special bazaars.

Chief Minister Buzdar had earlier directed the cabinet committee on price control to recommend effective steps for giving substantial relief to the citizens in Ramazan. In a statement, he said the government would offer a package too to effectively provide relief to the people during Ramazan this year.

He had also said that Sahulat Bazaars would be permanently established to save shoppers from artificial price hikes. The chief minister had issued directives to make the Ramazan Bazaars functional from the last week of Shaban, adding that he would visit the markets. Similarly, ministers and administrative secretaries would also visit the markets to ensure the provision of relief to the citizens, he had announced.