On Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Ministry of National Food Security to launch the Ramadan relief package for 2025, offering subsidized food items to low-income groups without involving state-owned utility stores.
In a cabinet meeting, the PM emphasized avoiding utility stores in the distribution process to prevent corruption and reduce customer complaints. He explained, “With Ramadan approaching, I have tasked the Ministry of Food Security with preparing a package free from utility stores to eliminate corruption and the distribution of spoiled goods.”
Sharif added that the problems faced in previous years, including complaints about long queues, poor-quality goods, limited availability, and challenges in verifying identification, could not continue. Thus, the government has decided to implement a solution through a Ramadan package minus utility stores.
Typically, the Ramadan relief package offers subsidies on essential goods like wheat, sugar, oil, and pulses, which are mainly distributed via utility stores. Last year, the Sharif-led government allocated $26.8 million (Rs 7.5 billion) in subsidies to benefit over 30.96 million families.
