Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a significant increase in the size of the Ramadan Relief Package, raising it from seven and a half billion to twelve and a half billion rupees.
In an effort to expand the reach of the relief package, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to broaden its scope. Alongside utility stores and the Benazir Income Support Program, mobile units will also distribute food items at discounted prices as part of this initiative.
The primary directive is to ensure that the relief package reaches as many deserving individuals as possible, particularly the poor and needy. To facilitate this, 1200 mobile points and 300 permanent relief centers are being established across various locations.
During the holy month of Ramadan, food items will be available at subsidized rates compared to the normal market prices, from the beginning to the end of Ramadan. In addition to designated centers, trucks will be deployed to deliver affordable food items directly to communities in need.
To enhance efficiency and transparency, modern technology such as GPS will be utilized for location determination, ensuring precise delivery. A special instructional video will also be released to guide users on utilizing the mobile application for accessing relief services.
Furthermore, a digital technology-enabled dashboard is in development to monitor the sale of flour through mobile units. The supply of flour will remain uninterrupted even during the transition of mobile units between locations.
Under the Benazir Income Support Program, essential items including flour, rice, dal, ghee, sugar, syrup, and milk will be available at subsidized rates. Notably, a subsidy of 77 rupees per kilogram of flour and 70 rupees per kilogram of ghee will be provided under this program.
The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to alleviate the economic burden on vulnerable segments of society during the holy month of Ramadan, ensuring access to essential commodities at affordable prices.
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