ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued instructions to prepare beneficial and effective Ramadan packages for the poor and needy people.
In a meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif, the federal government’s proposed Ramadan package and the third-party validation of last year’s Ramadan package, in which the Prime Minister praised all relevant institutions and ministries for the report by the authoritative audit agency on the transparency of last year’s Ramadan package.
The meeting was attended by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, Chairman NADRA and Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other relevant government officials.
Shehbaz Sharif said that since last year, the federal government has set up a transparent system to provide food and drink to the poor people at affordable prices, thanks to the Ramadan package.
The government has changed the system of financial irregularities, mismanagement, and exploitation of the poor, which has been going on in the country for decades, into a transparent system through utility stores.
He directed all the concerned institutions to formulate more effective and beneficial packages and recommendations for the upcoming Ramadan than last year, saying that due to corruption in utility stores, deserving people were deprived of their rights.
The provision of relief funds to the people through digital wallets will also prove to be a milestone in achieving a cashless economy, and the participation of the State Bank of Pakistan in the distribution of the Ramadan package will promote the cashless economy.
He directed that all the concerned ministries and institutions should ensure that the scope and inclusion of the poor people in the relief funds can be expanded as much as possible.
A comprehensive strategy and recommendations containing practical measures should be presented soon for better and more effective payment of the Ramadan package than last year. A digital dashboard and systematic monitoring system should be developed for effective monitoring.
The briefing given in the meeting said that in the third-party validation of the Ramadan package last year, a world-renowned and authoritative audit firm declared the government package effective and transparent.
Vault System for BISP Schemes
A Social Protection Vault system is being introduced in the Benazir Income Support Program, under which free SIMs are being distributed to deserving people, and from March 2026, all aid funds will be distributed digitally through this SIM.
Financial assistance and social welfare of the poor and the white-clad people are among the top priorities of the government.
The Prime Minister said that the provision of relief funds of the Ramadan package to the poor people should be made through digital wallets so that the honor and dignity of the people are not harmed.
