By Sardar Khan Niazi

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities develop a beneficial Ramadan package to reach the maximum number of Pakistanis and instructed disbursement of financial assistance through digital wallets, Sharif’s office said. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by more than two billion Muslims worldwide, who abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset. It begins with the sighting of the crescent moon and is expected to start around Feb. 17 or 18 this year. Most Pakistanis suffer from artificial hikes in food prices every year during Ramadan. Demand for essential food items surges during the month as people prepare traditional dishes to break the fast with the evening iftar meal. Presiding over a review meeting on third-party validation of the Ramadan relief package, Sharif was briefed on the introduction of a social protection wallet system, under which mobile phone connections were being distributed among beneficiaries for disbursement of financial assistance. The prime minister specially directed all relevant institutions to formulate a more effective and beneficial package and recommendations for the upcoming Ramadan than last year. He issued special instructions that the disbursement of financial assistance under the Ramadan Package to poor citizens should be carried out exclusively through digital wallets so that their dignity and respect are not compromised. In 2024, the Sharif-led government had announced a historic Ramadan package with a subsidy of $26.8 million (Rs7.5 billion) to lower the prices of essential items for over 30,96,00,000 families. The annual Ramadan relief package offers subsidies on essentials such as wheat, sugar, oil, and pulses. It was previously administered through utility stores but was discontinued last year after years of reported corruption and mismanagement, including complaints of substandard goods being sold to the open market. The use of digital wallets for the provision of financial assistance with the State Bank of Pakistan’s assistance would promote a cashless economy, according to the prime minister. He directed that special measures should be taken to ensure transparency, inclusion of the poor, and administrative discipline in the disbursement of aid and the Ramadan Package.

Prime Minister said that the third-party validation of the Ramadan package, conducted by a globally renowned and credible audit firm, would find the government’s package to be effective and transparent. No financial irregularities or serious administrative lapses will be reported. Commending the transparency, PM Shahbaz Sharif said the federal government has taken revolutionary steps by eliminating decades-long financial mismanagement and inefficiencies in Utility Stores, ensuring that essential food items reach the poor at subsidized rates. He emphasized that providing financial and social support to low-income and deserving citizens remains a top priority of the government. The Prime Minister directed all relevant ministries and departments to develop a comprehensive strategy for a more effective and beneficial Ramadan and Eid package this year. He instructed that disbursement of assistance should be done through digital wallets to protect the dignity of beneficiaries, promote inclusion, and advance Pakistan’s cashless economy. The State Bank of Pakistan’s involvement in the distribution was also highlighted as a key step towards promoting a cashless economy. For effective monitoring, PM Shahbaz Sharif called for the establishment of a digital dashboard and organized monitoring systems to ensure transparency, wider outreach, and accountability. He also asked for practical recommendations and a detailed plan to improve the efficiency and impact of the upcoming packa. Under the Benazir Income Support Program, a social protection wallet system has been implemented, through which beneficiaries receive free SIMs, and from March 2026, all assistance payments will be distributed digitally via these SIMs. The Prime Minister underscored that all measures should ensure transparency and maximum inclusion of deserving beneficiaries in the upcoming Ramadan package.