Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in order to facilitate public during holy month, has increased the size of Ramzan Relief Package from 7 billion rupees to record Rs12 billion, reported 24NewsHD TV.

The federal government is aimed at provision of maximum relief to masses during holy month under Benazir Income Support Programme, Utility Stores and at mobile units.

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced Ramazan relief package of Rs 7.5 billion for the poor and middle classes.

He was chairing a high level meeting on Prime Minister’s Ramazan Relief Package and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Senator Ishaq Dar, Ahad Cheema, Shiza Fatima Khawaja, Romina Khursheed Alam and high ranking officials attended the meeting. The PM was given a detailed briefing on the Ramazan relief package.

During Ramazan, under the package more than 39.6 million families will be provided edible goods on lower rates.

Under the Benazir Income Support Programme, 88 percent of the eligible families will be given 19 edible items including flour, rice, pulses, ghee, cooking oil, sugar, sherbet and milk on lower than market rates. The rate of subsidy on these goods would be 30 percent which was more than the inflation rate.

Subsidy of Rs 77 per kg would be given on 20kg flour bag and Rs 70 subsidy on every kilogramme of ghee.

The PM Ramazan relief package would also be distributed among the needy families through 4775 utility stores across the country and the supply would continue till the end of Ramazan.

Those who would face any difficulty in registration for the Ramazan relief programme, would be facilitated and registered at the spot and their complaints would be resolved. The prime minister said it was priority of the government to distribute edible items to the poor and low income class on lower than market rates. He said no compromise would be made on the quality of the edible items being provided under the relief package.

The quality of the eatables would be strictly monitored, he added. The prime minister said it would be ensured that the people should not face any difficulty while availing the Ramazan package. He directed to increase the counters for distribution of Ramazan package especially cheap flour besides mobile units.

The PM instructed that the deserving people should be properly guided through an awareness campaign across the country about the relief package so that they could avail the facility and should not face any difficulty in getting the edible items. He said the system for resolving complaints of people coming to get the relief package, should be more effectively coordinated, adding no negligence or laxity would be tolerated.

Reporter: Owais Kiyani