The federal government of Pakistan on Saturday announced a Rs38 billion relief package ahead of Ramadan, aimed at providing essential support to around 12 million deserving families across the country, officials said.
The package, approved by the federal cabinet, is designed to lower the cost of essential goods during the holy month and help ease inflationary pressures on low-income households, particularly those affected by rising prices of food and basic commodities.
According to the Finance Ministry, the Ramadan package includes targeted subsidies and cash-assistance measures to ensure that beneficiaries have access to staple items such as flour, sugar, ghee, pulses and other food essentials at subsidised rates.
A senior government official told Geo News that priority will be given to vulnerable population groups, including daily wage earners, low-income families and those living below the poverty line. Distribution mechanisms are expected to use existing Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) infrastructure to identify and assist eligible households.
The government said it will coordinate with provincial authorities to implement the programme and ensure timely delivery of food items and financial support before Ramadan begins next month.
The announcement was welcomed by several lawmakers who described the package as a necessary step to mitigate the impact of inflation on ordinary citizens, particularly in the current economic climate.
However, some opposition leaders urged the government to ensure transparency in the selection of beneficiaries and warned against possible duplication and exclusion errors in the rollout.
The finance ministry said that final operational details and eligibility criteria for the Ramadan relief package will be announced in the coming days, including guidelines for application and distribution.
Officials added that this is part of ongoing social welfare efforts by the government to support poor and marginalised communities during key religious and national occasions.