PM Shehbaz Directs Preparation of Effective Ramadan Package for Poor Families

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all relevant departments to prepare a more effective and beneficial package for the upcoming Ramadan compared to last year, with a special focus on digital disbursement to preserve recipients’ dignity.

Chairing a meeting on the Ramadan package in Islamabad on Friday, the Prime Minister said financial support and social welfare of the poor and common man are among the government’s top priorities, according to the PM Office.

The Prime Minister gave special instructions that aid disbursement under the Ramadan package should be made through digital wallets to preserve the dignity and respect of the recipients.

Disbursing aid through digital wallets will also serve as a milestone toward achieving a cashless economy, he added.
Shehbaz said all relevant ministries and departments should ensure that the coverage and inclusion of deserving beneficiaries in the aid disbursement are maximized.

He directed that a digital dashboard and an organized monitoring system should also be implemented for effective monitoring of the relief distribution.

The Premier praised all relevant departments and ministries for the transparency of last year’s Ramadan package, as highlighted in the report of a reputable audit firm.

He said the federal government has established a transparent system since last year to provide the poor with essential food items at subsidized rates through the Ramadan package.

Shehbaz said the system of utility stores in the country for decades was marred by financial irregularities, mismanagement and exploitation of the poor. The government has replaced it with a transparent system, he added.

The move to digital disbursement represents a significant shift in how the government delivers social welfare assistance to vulnerable segments of society.

Digital wallets eliminate intermediaries and reduce the risk of corruption while allowing beneficiaries to purchase essential items without the stigma often associated with receiving aid.

The Prime Minister’s emphasis on maximizing coverage suggests the government plans to expand the number of beneficiaries compared to previous years. Officials said the digital monitoring system will allow real-time tracking of aid distribution and help identify any gaps or irregularities in the process.

The upcoming Ramadan is expected to begin in late February or early March, depending on moon sighting.