——— 1,200 mobile points and 300 permanent relief centres will be established
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has increased the volume of Ramazan Package from Rs7.5 billion to Rs12.5 billion, and directed for enhancing its outreach to facilitate the masses during the upcoming holy month.
Along with Utility stores and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), mobile units would provide edible items at subsidised rates, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release on Sunday.
In the initial phase, 1,200 mobile points and 300 permanent relief centres will be established. The prime minister wishes that maximum relief should be extended to the poor.
Besides, designated points, trucks would also supply foodstuff to different areas.
On March 7, the prime minister announced a Rs7.5 billion subsidised Ramazan package.
A total of 39.6 million people would be provided food items during the holy month at rates subsidised by 30 percent.
The items under BISP included flour, rice, pulses, ghee, sugar, syrup and milk. The subsidy on flour would be Rs77 per kg and on ghee Rs70, respectively.
On the other hand, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to meet tomorrow for the sighting of Ramazan moon in Peshawar, after evening prayers.
According to the statement issued by the spokesperson, the meeting for the sighting of the Ramazan moon – for Hijri year 1445 – will be administered by Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal committee Maulana Abdul Khabir.
Meanwhile, the meetings of other zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees will be held simultaneously at their respective locations. The final announcement regarding the moon will be made by the chairman himself, based on testimonies received from different parts of the country.
The meteorological department has already predicted the sighting of the Ramazan moon on March 11.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have asked their citizens to look for the Ramazan moon on March 10. This hints that these countries will potentially start Ramazan a day earlier than Pakistan – which is usually the case.
The sacred month, marked by devout dedication, will witness millions of Pakistanis and billions of Muslims globally engaging in fasting from sunrise to sunset, with the duration of fasting spanning between 12 to 17 hours – contingent on geographical locations worldwide.
