In an endeavour to extend aid to the needy, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday unveiled a special Ramazan package delivering free flour to ‘underprivileged individuals’.
The package was agreed upon during a meeting in Lahore presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement. Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the Secretary Food, and other important officials attended the meeting.
Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman and Financial Secretary Mujahid Sherdil delivered the Ramazan package to the prime minister.
The package is the first of its type, targeted at assisting the underprivileged.
Addressing on the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that when the scheme is launched in Punjab, the federal government would work with states to duplicate it.The premier directed the authorities concerned to complete the comprehensive strategy for the supply of free flour to poor families as soon as possible.
Earlier in March, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved Ramazan Relief Package.
The ECC approved hybrid model of Ramazan Relief Package (Targeted and Un-targeted) consisting of 19 items for Utility Stores Corporation, budgeted of Rs5 billion. The summary was moved by the Ministry of Industries and Production.
It is pertinent to mention here that consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation clocked in at 31.5% on a year-on-year basis in February 2023 compared to an increase of 27.6% in the previous month and 12.2% in February 2022
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), on a month-on-month basis, it increased to 4.3%.
“CPI inflation General increased to 31.5% on year-on-year basis in Feb 2023 as compared to an increase of 27.6% in the previous month and 12.2% in Feb 2022,” said the PBS. At 31.5%, this is the highest YoY inflation since data is available – July 1965.
