LAHORE: More than 50 per cent target of Nigehban Ramazan Package has been achieved in Punjab, which was launched to provide relief to 6.5 million families in the province, Information Minister Uzma Bukhari and Food Minister Bilal Yasin told a joint press conference here on Saturday.

Uzma said: “The Punjab government is making every possible effort to provide relief to the people. It is our government’s mission to take care of the poor and keep the prices low. It was a challenge for our government to control inflation during Ramazan.”

She said ration is being provided to 6.5m people at their doorsteps through Nigehban package without queuing and waiting. This is for the first time in history that no major complaints have come out in such a huge programme.

She said for the first time in the history of Punjab, Nigehban Ramazan Package and Model Bazaars are running side by side. Magistrates have been given proper training to control the prices, their monitoring is also being done through dashboards.

Uzma Bukhari said: “Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz says that she has come to reduce the prices of all things including potatoes, tomatoes and onions. There has been a prime minister in our country who used to say that I have not come to reduce the prices of things. Our government is going beyond the set target and the work of delivering ration to people at their doorsteps will be completed by Ramazan 10. Our effort is to keep the administrative costs to a minimum. The chief minister has announced a new survey, which will compile data by next Ramazan.”

Addressing the press conference, Food Minister Bilal Yasin said a historic and transparent relief package is being given to the public with a huge amount of Rs30bn. Better management and increased supply have significantly reduced the prices of onions, tomatoes and potatoes.

In the last four days, he said, price control magistrates conducted 300,000 inspections, whereas, 29,148 violations were found, 794 FIRs registered and 2,221 people were detained. A total fine of Rs26 million has been imposed.

Bilal Yasin said food prices will come down further in the coming days. He said 13 items are available at 25pc discounted rates at 51 agriculture fair price shops across Punjab.

He said the government is ensuring the supply of high quality items in the food hampers. The food authority teams are checking the quality of the items during packing.

He said in order to bring down the prices, the ministers are participating in the auction process in the markets along with the district administration. He said owing to the efforts of the cabinet committee, the Cooking Oil Association has reduced the price by Rs15 per litre and the Poultry Association has cut the rate of chicken by Rs25 per kg in model bazaars.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2024