Rs12,500 per family under Ehsaas Ramadan Package approved, CM orders relief distribution by 8th of Ramadan
DLP Report
ISLAMABAD
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday formally unveiled the Ramazan Relief Package, worth Rs12.8 billion, which would benefit more than one million families of the province.
Chairing a meeting at Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, Sohail Afridi called for providing maximum relief to the public during Ramadan.
The meeting reviewed measures to ensure the availability of quality food items at officially notified rates and effective implementation of the Ramadan Relief Package, said a handout.
The meeting was attended by Speaker Assembly Babar Saleem Swati, MPA Akbar Ayub Khan, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, and regional and deputy commissioners, who participated via video link.
The Chief Minister made it clear that any price hike during the holy month would be unacceptable and directed authorities to strictly enforce price control across the province.
Warning against hoarding and self-imposed pricing, he said strict legal action would be taken against those involved in artificial price hikes. Officials informed the meeting that 146 price monitoring desks had been established in all districts, while 161 additional price control magistrates had been appointed to strengthen enforcement.
Special measures would also be taken to monitor prices in rural areas.
Mr Afridi directed that Ehsaas Ramadan Dastarkhwan be established in every district and at all entry points of the province to provide sehri and iftar facilities to passengers.
He also ordered that quality food arrangements be ensured at orphanages, Darul Aman centres and shelter homes. Under the Ehsaas Ramadan Package, Rs12,500 per family will be provided to deserving households.
The Chief Minister directed that the distribution process be completed by the eighth day of Ramadan, with priority given to orphans, widows, the poor and persons with disabilities.
Officials said the package would benefit 1,016,394 families.
The Chief Minister also instructed the health department to ensure round-the-clock availability of doctors and medicines at government hospitals during Ramadan so that patients do not face difficulties while fasting.
He said he would personally supervise arrangements throughout the province and stressed that ensuring food safety and the supply of clean and safe food remained a core government priority. Relevant departments were directed to adopt innovative measures to strengthen food quality and hygiene controls.
The meeting was informed that additional sanitation teams would be deployed during Ramadan to maintain cleanliness. Uploading photographs and GIS coordinates of the bidding process in fruit and vegetable markets had been made mandatory, while deputy commissioners had been issued special instructions to prevent hoarding.
