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LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced Rs7 billion Ramazan Package to provide relief to the common man during the holy month.
Addressing a press conference today, the chief minister said that under the relief package, people will get essential food items at subsidized rates.
Usman Buzdar said that under the “Ramazan Package,” a 10-kilogram flour bag, which was sold at Rs420 in the market, would be provided at Rs300.
The Punjab government will give an Rs3.5 billion subsidy for the provision of wheat flour to the masses at cheaper rates, he informed.
The chief minister further informed that over 310 Ramadan Bazar would set up across the province where sugar will be available at Rs60 per kilogram. Food items will be sold in the Bazars at the rates of the year 2018, the chief minister claimed.
Earlier on March 10, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had approved the Rs7.8 billion Ramazan Relief Package.
Ministry of Industries and Production presented a ‘Ramadan Relief Package-2021’ in accordance with the directive of the prime minister to provide maximum relief to the marginalized segments of the society during the holy month of Ramazan.
The Utility Stores Corporation would subsidize 19 essential items under the proposed relief package entails a subsidy equivalent to approximately Rs. 7.8 billion including wheat flour, sugar and ghee which have significant differential prevailing prices in the domestic markets.
The MD USC briefed the forum that procurement would start from April 1 to ensure availability of basic items at discounted prices across 4000 outlets of USCs throughout the country.
The Committee directed him to coordinate with Finance Division for timely release of funds to ensure well-timed procurement and other contingent arrangements.
Under Rs 7.6 billion Ramazan relief package a subsidy of around Rs40 per kilogram has been given on sugar, ghee and wheat flour. The relief package includes a reduction in prices of 14 essential items by 10 to 15 percent at the Utility Stores.
