Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has unveiled a Ramzan package worth Rs22.5 billion to support 60 per cent of the population, especially those earning a minimum wage between Rs32,000 to Rs35,000 per month.
The targeted families will receive Rs5,000 in cash each through banks, with the mechanism for distribution set to be announced within the next two days. The chief minister also directed all divisional commissioners to launch a crackdown against hoarders and profiteers starting today (Friday) and report to him.
These decisions were made during a meeting regarding the Ramzan package and other arrangements, including price control. The meeting was attended by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, IG Police Riffat Mukhtar, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Secretary Agriculture Aijaz Shah, Secretary Food Nasir Abbas Soomro, Adl IG Karachi Khadim Rind, Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, all deputy commissioners of Karachi, representatives of KE and SSGC, and other concerned officials.
In a briefing to the chief minister, Chief Secretary Alam said that there are 4.5 million deserving families in the province earning between Rs32,000 to Rs35,000 or less per month. The CM highlighted that these families constitute 60 per cent of the population, and he has decided to provide them with a Rs5,000 cash grant each. The total subsidy amount for this initiative is expected to be Rs22.5 billion, with a similar package worth Rs15.5 billion provided during the last Ramzan.
CM Shah instructed the chief secretary to determine the number of eligible families to ensure that no one is left behind. He also directed him to coordinate with banks for the distribution of the allocated Rs22.5 billion.
The chief minister directed all divisional commissioners to launch a crackdown against profiteers and hoarders, underlining the need to maintain not only the prices of commodities but also a balance between demand and supply to keep prices under control.
Shah instructed Karachi Commissioner Saleem Rajput to have representatives present at the time of the auction of vegetables and fruits at Subzi Mandi and set prices accordingly. He directed the IG police to instruct district police to support the district administration in price control exercises and the crackdown against hoarders and profiteers.
The chief minister also instructed Karachi Electric, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, and Sukkur Electric Power Company to avoid load-shedding during Iftar and Sehar. The Sui Southern Gas Company has started load-shedding, but CM Shah requested exemption for domestic consumers during Ramazan.
The chief minister directed the Zakat Department to release a Rs14,000 'guzara allowance' among their 110,000 registered families each. He urged everyone, including the private sector and philanthropists, to support the poor during the holy month of Ramazan.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2024.
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