PM ramazan relief package: A ray of hope for underprivileged
PESHAWAR (APP): The Prime Minister’s Ramazan relief package of Rs20 billion has garnered widespread praise from people across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with citizens from all walks of life lauding the unprecedented financial support.
This package, which is the largest ever announced for the holy month of Ramazan, is expected to offer significant relief to millions of poor families across Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of the Rs20 billion package on Saturday has been hailed as a much-needed gesture in these challenging times.
The package aims to support approximately 4 million deserving families, benefiting about 20 million people, including those in KP.
This move is seen as a substantial increase over last year’s relief of Rs7 billion, representing a 186% increase.
Politicians, economists, teachers, and civil society members have all voiced their support for the relief initiative, but it has particularly resonated with low-income groups.
Workers, farmers, laborers, and low-paid employees expressed their gratitude, saying the relief would ease the financial burden during the holy month.
Riaz Khan, a retired school teacher, praised the Prime Minister for his empathy and commitment to helping those in need.
“This massive relief package will provide much-needed assistance to many poor families, and termed it very positive to see the government prioritizing the welfare of ordinary citizens,” Riaz Khan remarked.
The relief package, which will be distributed within the first ten days of Ramazan, will provide Rs5,000 per family, disbursed through digital wallets.
This financial support is expected to be particularly impactful for daily wage earners, farmers, labouers and small business owners who are struggling with inflation and rising living costs.
Bilal Khan, a local fruit seller, expressed his gratitude for the Prime Minister for the mega package, calling it important for people in his community.
“The Ramazan relief package will make a huge difference for people like me who struggle to make ends meet. It will help us buy essentials for our families and observe the holy month with peace of mind.”
Similarly, farmers and small-scale vendors such as Misal Khan, a farmer, Lateef Shah, a hairdresser, and Shahjehan, a bread maker, thanked the Prime Minister for his timely support. “This package will ease our daily challenges and ensure that we can provide for our families during the holy month,” they said.
The Prime Minister’s Ramazan package has been widely seen as a symbol of solidarity with the masses.
Many believe that this initiative will foster a sense of national unity and highlight the government’s commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable sectors of society.
As the holy month of Ramazan begins, the relief package stands as a beacon of hope for millions, reaffirming the government’s focus on alleviating the financial hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
The people of KP, along with the rest of the nation, have expressed their sincere appreciation for this timely and generous initiative.
Ikhtair Wali, PMLN KP spokesman said that PM Shahbaz Sharif allways cared for poor and underprivileged.
He said that Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program, provided cash to those affected by economic hardship, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and monthly financial assistance to low-income women besides increasing BISP stipends benefited millions.
He said Uraan Pakistan Program was introduced to provide relief to poor people, especially for small businesses and agricultural besides SMEs.
This initiative aimed to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities for low-income families.
To tackle rising food prices, he said the government under Shehbaz Sharif launched a Sasta Atta (cheap flour) program aimed to distribute subsidized flour to the poor through a network of outlets and distribution points across the country.
The objective was to ensure that lower-income families had access to essential food items at affordable prices, especially during times of economic hardship.
PMLN led government also invested in rural development by improving infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and water supply in impoverished areas. These projects were designed to create jobs, improve living conditions, and stimulate local economies.
The focus on rural areas was part of a broader strategy to reduce regional disparities and improve the quality of life for those living in remote and underserved areas.
He said that Shehbaz Sharif’s government also emphasized improving healthcare services for the poor included the expansion of Sehat Sahulat Cards, a program that provides free healthcare to low-income families, enabling them to access medical treatments without financial burden.
The government made efforts to improve public hospitals and expand healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
Besides, the government also focused on ensuring food security for the vulnerable population by providing subsidies on essential food items, including wheat, rice, sugar, and edible oil. This initiative aimed to protect the poor from inflation and ensure they could afford basic food items.
Under Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, he said there were efforts to make education more accessible to underprivileged children. This included the introduction of free textbooks, scholarships, and stipends for children from poor families to encourage enrollment and reduce dropout rates.
In addition, the government focused on building and upgrading schools in underdeveloped areas to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
Despite facing economic challenges, the experts said these pro poor programs were an attempt to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life.
