The federal government is set to implement the Ramzan Relief Package, totaling Rs7.492 billion, through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) starting March 4, 2024. This initiative aims to provide relief to targeted beneficiaries by offering subsidies on 19 essential items.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved this decision based on a proposal from the Ministry of Industries and Production. The proposal sought approval for providing subsidies to targeted beneficiaries registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) with a net amount of Rs7.492 billion.
Of this, Rs 5 billion was allocated in the current fiscal year 2023–24 for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024, with the remaining Rs 2.492 billion to be re-appropriated from the current fiscal year budget allocations for the Prime Minister Relief Package (PMRP).
The ECC directed the Finance Division to release the full subsidy amount of Rs7.492 billion to ensure timely purchases and necessary arrangements for the availability of these items at USC outlets.
With Ramzan expected to commence on March 11, 2024, the implementation date for the Ramzan Relief Package-2024 was proposed from March 4, 2024, until the last day of Ramzan.
Since 1991, the government has been providing relief during Ramzan by selling 19 items at subsidised rates through USC outlets. For the fiscal year 2023–24, the federal government allocated Rs35 billion for subsidies on essential items, including Rs30 billion for PMRP and Rs5 billion for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024.
The Ramzan Relief Package aims to provide maximum relief to the masses. Due to restrictions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on untargeted subsidies, subsidies are provided to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-40 of BISP for the fiscal year 2023–24.
The USC is currently serving 26.92 million households registered under PMT-40. To extend assistance to more beneficiaries during Ramzan-2024, it is proposed to provide subsidies on 19 items to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-60, reaching an additional 12.73 million households.
