PM wants Rs7.5bn Ramazan package accessible to all deserving people

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed officials concerned to ensure access of Ramazan relief package to all deserving persons.

Chairing a meeting on the Ramazan package and Benazir Income Support Porgramme, Shehbaz said no compromise would be made on quality of edibles being distributed under the package. He said strict monitoring will be done to ensure that no deserving person faces any problem during the distribution of package.

Distribution of ration under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Ramazan relief package worth Rs7.5 billion subsidy has begun to provide respite to deserving families before the holy month. The distribution will continue till the night before Eidul Fitr.

As many as 19 items including flour, rice, pulses, ghee, edible oil, sugar, milk are being provided through 4,775 utility stores to around 40 million families. Under the package, the deserving families would be given Rs77 per kilogram discount on 20-kilogram flour bag while Rs70 per kilogram subsidy would be provided on ghee. He directed the officials concerned to increase counters and establish mobile units for further easing the distribution of package, especially cheap flour. He said strict action would be taken against hoarders involved in creating artificial price hike of essential items.

He said a countrywide awareness campaign should be launched so that maximum deserving families could be benefited. He said the system should be made more integrated and effective for immediate redressal of complaints of people who came to get the package.

On the occasion, the prime minister also directed the relevant officials to distribute quarterly installment of Rs10,500 to deserving people under the BISP and include an additional Rs2,000 per deserving family of Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to expedite the process of privatisation of loss-making State-Owned Entities (SOEs) and removing hurdles in the process.

Presiding over a high-level meeting here on Thursday to review the privatisation process, he further instructed to take urgent measures to enhance capacity building of institutions responsible for privatisation in order to revive the economy and accelerate process of providing relief to the people. A committee was also constituted to review the proposal to hand over power companies to the provinces. It would submit its proposals to the prime minister.

Shehbaz said the people of Pakistan were compelled to bear the heavy cost of keeping the loss-making entities functional. He stressed the need to create an environment of competitiveness in expediting business activities and providing the best services to the people. He urged the ministries, departments and institutions to present suggestions demonstrating professionalism and commitment as it was the matter of Pakistan’s development.

The meeting took a detailed review of the progress made so far and hurdles in privatization of loss-making SOEs, including Pakistan International Airlines, First Women Bank, Roosevelt Hotel, Heavy Electrical Complex, power plants, power distribution companies and Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation.

The prime minister instructed authorities to make the legal team of the government effective and the Law Ministry to propose appropriate actions. He directed senior officials to present a detailed report on outstanding issues regarding privatisation before the federal cabinet as soon it is formed.

Meanwhile, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza called on Shehbaz. The CJCSC congratulated the prime minister on assuming his office and expressed best wishes for him. During the meeting, professional and security matters of the armed forces also came under discussion.

Separately, PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the world leaders for extending felicitations and prayers for him on the assumption of office. Shehbaz took to X to thank the leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Kenyan President William Ruto. “I wish to thank my brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of brotherly Saudi Arabia, for the warm wishes and prayers on my assumption of the office of Prime Minister,” Shehbaz said.

He said that the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were deep rooted in historical bonds based on mutual respect, religious and cultural affinity and shared values. He expressed the confidence that the fraternal bilateral ties would keep flourishing in the times to come. “Looking forward to working closely with my brother for mutual benefit of the peoples of the two brotherly countries,” he remarked.

He also thanked the Emir of Qatar, Deputy Emir and Qatari prime minister for their messages of felicitations. “Pakistan cherishes its brotherly ties with Qatar and I look forward to working closely with His Highness to further strengthen our exemplary bonds of friendship,” he remarked.

Shehbaz thanked Narendra Modi for felicitations on his election.

Thanking for a congratulatory call from Iranian President Dr Ebrahim Raisi, he said during the conversation, they reaffirmed their resolve to work closely for the betterment of two countries and the region. He also thanked Kenyan President William Ruto for his wishes, saying that Pakistan and Kenya enjoyed close and cordial relations.

The prime minister said that he looked forward to continued collaboration for further enhancement of bilateral ties and economic cooperation.