Murad announces Rs22.5bn Ramazan package for Sindh

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced a Rs22.5 billion Ramazan package targeting approximately 60 per cent of the population of the province, specifically the families earning between Rs32,000 and Rs35,000 a month. Under this package, each of the low-income families will receive Rs5,000 cash assistance through banks.

Shah made the announcement on Thursday during a meeting he chaired to discuss Ramazan arrangements and price control measures. Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam and Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab were also present on the occasion.

Dr Alam told the meeting that 4.5 million families, roughly 60 per cent of the total population of the province, have a monthly income between Rs32,000 and Rs35,000. Shah approved the cash assistance programme for them during Ramazan, which would start next week.

Shah directed Dr Alam to coordinate with banks for distributing the Rs22.5 billion package. He also stressed maintaining a supply-demand balance for price stabilisation, and instructed divisional commissioners to crack down on hoarders and profiteers during Ramazan.

He directed the Karachi commissioner to assign district administration representatives to markets for monitoring fruit and vegetable prices, and ensuring their maintenance in accordance with the official rates. He said police would support the district administration in their price control campaign and crackdown on price manipulators.

He also directed electricity companies in the province to avoid load-shedding during Sehri and Iftar timings. He requested the Sui Southern Gas Company to exempt domestic consumers from load-shedding during Ramazan.

He instructed the Zakat department to disburse Rs14,000 per family to 110,000 registered families. He urged everyone, including private entities and philanthropists, to contribute to supporting those in need during Ramazan.

He said that each year in Ramazan the prices of food items increase across Pakistan while they decrease around the world. He urged people to alleviate the suffering of the underprivileged during Ramazan.

He stressed that the district administration should conduct surprise inspections at markets to assess the availability, quality and pricing of essential commodities, with zero tolerance for any shortcomings.