Ramazan package: Punjab cabinet approves 6.5m relief hampers for deserving families

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet has approved the Ramazan Nigahban Relief Package 2024, under which around 6.5 million relief hampers will be delivered at the doorsteps of deserving families and more than 30 million people will benefit from the programme.

Addressing her first cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated all her ministers, especially Punjab’s first Sikh minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, on assuming the charge of their departments.

She said the Ramazan Nigahban Relief hamper would contain 10-kg flour, 2-kg rice, 2-kg sugar, 2-kg ghee and 2-kg Besan [gram flour]. She tasked the district administrations and Punjab Food Authority to ensure quality of food items in the hampers.

The CM directed the Urban Unit and Special Branch to submit a daily report on delivery of Ramazan Nigahban hampers after conducting a physical survey of beneficiaries. She said delivery of hampers would be monitored through an app and dashboard developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).

CM Maryam directed the provincial ministers to monitor distribution of hampers and added that profiteers and hoarders should be dealt with an iron hand during the holy month of Ramazan. She also said that the price control magistrates should be given proper training to keep an effective check on the price hike.

The cabinet also approved setting up of Model Ramazan bazaars at district level to provide subsidized commodities to common man.

The chief minister directed the provincial ministers to work hard with full coordination and dedication to ensure maximum relief to people in the holy month of Ramazan.

She ordered for constituting a special ministerial committee for effective monitoring of Ramazan Nigahban relief programme.

A detailed briefing was given to ministers on working procedure of cabinet under Punjab Government Rules of Business 2011. The cabinet also approved constitution of Cabinet Standing Committee on Finance and Development, Cabinet Standing Committee on Legislative Business, and Cabinet Standing Committee on Law and Order, in its session.

Provincial ministers, chief secretary, inspector general of police, chairman P&D, SMBR, chairman PITB, secretaries concerned and other officers of the relevant departments attended the meeting