Cabinet approves Rs7.49bn Ramazan package

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker federal cabinet Thursday approved Rs7.49 billion relief package ahead of the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan.

The cabinet, which probably held its last meeting, approved an earlier decision of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet according to which a targeted subsidy of Rs7.49 billion would be given to those registered by the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and others.

The relief package would be implemented from March 4. As many as 19 basic commodities, including flour, sugar, pulses, cooking oil, rice, basin, milk, drinks, dates, ghee and items, would be available at the utility stores at subsidized rates.

There would also be special discounted rates for other customers at the utility stores.

Chairing the cabinet meeting, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar expressed satisfaction over the government’s steps for restructuring different departments, promotion of foreign investment and ease of doing business.

He said the caretaker government was leaving the country’s economy in a better position than before adding the cabinet showed an excellent performance during its limited tenure.

“We are leaving behind an action plan for the elected government which will definitely prove useful for the people and national interest,” the prime minister said.

Kakar said the country’s interest was always given top priority in all the decisions and policymaking of the caretaker government.

“We have to work together for the development and stability of Pakistan,” he said.

The cabinet approved the receipt of Turkish Armed Forces Legion of Merit Award by the COAS General Asim Munir in recognition of his efforts for promotion of Pak-Turkish cooperation in the defence sector.

The meeting also approved the signing of an MoU between the Ministry of National Food Security and the UAE-based company Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and agricultural innovation.

Under this MoU, the first Pakistan Date Palm festival will be held in September this year with the aim to bolster dates production.

The meeting also approved an extension in deputation period of Ms. Lubna Farooq Malik as Director General Financial Monitoring Unit for a period of one year with effect from June 09, 2023.