Rs47b Ramazan relief package approved

The Punjab government has allocated Rs47 billion for the Ramazan Nigehban Package.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to review preparations for Ramazan and public relief measures.

Under the package, 4.2 million deserving families will receive Rs10,000 each during the month.

The meeting was informed that more than two million beneficiaries would be issued Nigehban Cards, through which cash assistance as well as essential commodities could be purchased.

The cards will also enable beneficiaries to withdraw cash through branchless banking agents and ATMs. To facilitate implementation, 136 card activation centres will be established across the province, while a Ramazan Nigehban Dashboard will be set up for monitoring and verification.

Ration Card holders will also receive Rs10,000 during Ramazan instead of the existing Rs3,000 monthly assistance.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed officials to ensure that payments through the Nigehban Card were made as simple and accessible as possible, including the option of payment for free home delivery services. She also ordered the establishment of stalls by flour mills, poultry, grocery and ghee mill associations at Sasta Ramazan and Sahulat Bazaars.

The meeting approved the establishment of eight 'Nigehban Dastarkhwan – Maryam Kay Mehman' in each tehsil, where up to 2,000 fasting people will be provided iftar daily. The commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners were directed to monitor the initiative, while the Punjab Food Authority will oversee food quality.

It was decided that 65 Sahulat Bazaars would operate in 30 districts, while additional permanent, mobile and temporary Ramazan Bazaars would be set up in other districts. A provincial monitoring room equipped with 1,250 cameras will be established to oversee pricing, cleanliness, security and other arrangements at the bazaars.

The chief minister directed officials to take steps to reduce the prices during Ramazan and ordered immediate identification of land for Sahulat Bazaars in 60 tehsils.

She emphasised that no deserving family should feel alone during the holy month and urged affluent citizens to support those in need.

She also ordered timely completion of canal desilting across all districts and expressed displeasure over cleanliness conditions in Sargodha, instructing the DC to take corrective measures.