Tag: Ramzan Relief Package

  • Utility Stores to implement Rs7.492 billion relief package ahead of Ramzan

    Utility Stores to implement Rs7.492 billion relief package ahead of Ramzan

    The federal government is set to implement the Ramzan Relief Package, totaling Rs7.492 billion, through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) starting March 4, 2024. This initiative aims to provide relief to targeted beneficiaries by offering subsidies on 19 essential items.

    The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved this decision based on a proposal from the Ministry of Industries and Production. The proposal sought approval for providing subsidies to targeted beneficiaries registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) with a net amount of Rs7.492 billion.

    Of this, Rs 5 billion was allocated in the current fiscal year 2023–24 for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024, with the remaining Rs 2.492 billion to be re-appropriated from the current fiscal year budget allocations for the Prime Minister Relief Package (PMRP).

    The ECC directed the Finance Division to release the full subsidy amount of Rs7.492 billion to ensure timely purchases and necessary arrangements for the availability of these items at USC outlets.

    With Ramzan expected to commence on March 11, 2024, the implementation date for the Ramzan Relief Package-2024 was proposed from March 4, 2024, until the last day of Ramzan.

    Since 1991, the government has been providing relief during Ramzan by selling 19 items at subsidised rates through USC outlets. For the fiscal year 2023–24, the federal government allocated Rs35 billion for subsidies on essential items, including Rs30 billion for PMRP and Rs5 billion for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024.

    The Ramzan Relief Package aims to provide maximum relief to the masses. Due to restrictions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on untargeted subsidies, subsidies are provided to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-40 of BISP for the fiscal year 2023–24.

    The USC is currently serving 26.92 million households registered under PMT-40. To extend assistance to more beneficiaries during Ramzan-2024, it is proposed to provide subsidies on 19 items to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-60, reaching an additional 12.73 million households.

  • Govt announces Rs5 billion Ramzan Relief Package for poor

    The government of Pakistan has unveiled a Ramzan Relief Package worth Rs5 billion to aid the poor during the holy month of Ramzan. Syed Murtaza Mahmud, Minister for Industries and Production, announced the package during a press conference, stating that the federal government’s first priority is to alleviate hardship and inflation for citizens.

    The package went into effect on March 21 and will run until the end of the holy month. In addition to the five basic food items already being provided at subsidized rates through the Utility Stores Corporation, the Prime Minister has expanded the relief package to include 19 subsidized items such as flour, sugar, ghee, cooking oil, tea, dates, besan, dal mash, dal mong, milk, drinks, and spices.

    The USC official also outlined two types of subsidies: targeted and general. Targeted subsidy is exclusively for users registered under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), while general subsidy is accessible to the entire country.

    For example, targeted subsidy flour is priced at Rs400 per 10 kg bag, sugar at Rs70 per kg and ghee at Rs300 per kg, while under general subsidy, a 10 kg bag of flour is available at Rs648, sugar at Rs91 per kg, and ghee at Rs490 per kg. The USC also provides a subsidy of Rs20 on white gram, super basmati rice, sella rice, and broken rice, Rs50 per kg on gram flour, and a 10% discount on spices. Tea, dates, milk, and beverages will also receive subsidies.

    The Prime Minister has also launched a free flour package in collaboration with the distribution points and utility stores established in different areas of Islamabad. Each registered household under BISP will receive one bag of 10 kg as a gift for the first time, and the remaining two bags will be received after 7 days.

    During the entire month of Ramzan, every registered household will receive three bags of flour (10 kg per bag) free of charge. To check eligibility, citizens can SMS their National Identity Card to 8171 or visit the BISP offices. It should be noted that apart from flour, sugar, and ghee, other subsidized items will be provided at the same rate for both general and targeted subsidy users.