The Punjab government has approved what it termed the province’s largest-ever Ramazan relief initiative, allocating Rs47 billion under the Ramazan Nigehban Package to benefit around one crore people.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to review advance preparations for Ramazan and various public relief measures. Under the package, 4.2 million deserving families will receive Rs10,000 each during the holy month.
The meeting was informed that more than two million beneficiaries would be issued Nigehban Cards, through which cash assistance as well as essential commodities could be purchased. The cards will also enable beneficiaries to withdraw cash through Bank of Punjab branchless banking agents and ATMs connected to the 1-Link network.
To facilitate smooth implementation, 136 card activation centres will be established across the province, while a Ramazan Nigehban Dashboard will be set up for monitoring and verification. Ration card holders will also receive Rs 10,000 during Ramazan instead of the existing Rs3,000 monthly assistance.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed officials to ensure that payments through the Nigehban Card were made as simple and accessible as possible, including the option of payment for free home delivery services. She also ordered the establishment of stalls by flour mills, poultry, grocery and ghee mill associations at Sasta Ramazan and Sahulat Bazaars.
The meeting approved the establishment of eight ‘Nigehban Dastarkhwan – Maryam Kay Mehman’ in each tehsil during Ramazan, where up to 2,000 fasting people will be provided iftar daily. Commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners were directed to personally monitor the initiative, while the Punjab Food Authority will oversee food quality.
It was further decided that 65 Sahulat Bazaars would operate in 30 districts, while additional permanent, mobile and temporary Ramazan bazaars would be set up across other districts. A provincial monitoring room equipped with 1,250 cameras will be established to oversee pricing, cleanliness, security and other arrangements at the bazaars.
The chief minister directed officials to take steps to further reduce prices during Ramazan and ordered immediate identification of land for Sahulat Bazaars in 60 tehsils. She emphasised that no deserving family should feel alone during the holy month and urged affluent citizens to support those in need.
Commending the success of the Sahulat Bazaar project, CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif praised Chairman Afzal Khokhar and his team, while directing district administrations to further improve performance. She also ordered timely completion of canal desilting work across all districts and expressed displeasure over cleanliness conditions in Sargodha, instructing the deputy commissioner to take corrective measures.