Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed ministries and officials concerned to distribute a subsidy package for the federal government’s Ramazan package through digital wallets to avoid long queues that compromise their dignity and respect.
Chairing a meeting to review the proposed Ramazan package and third-party validation of last year’s package, he maintained the center had established a transparent system to provide subsidized essential food items to the underprivileged during Ramazan, replacing financial irregularities and mismanagement in Utility Stores.
Praising all relevant institutions and ministries on the report of a reputable audit firm regarding the transparency of last year’s Ramazan package, he regretted that deserving individuals had been denied their due rights due to corruption in Utility Stores.
Financial support for, and the social well-being of, the poor and the middle class are among the top priorities of the government, he said. The digital wallets, he asserted, would also help the country advance toward a cashless economy.
Sharif directed officials concerned to devise a comprehensive strategy containing practical measures for a better and more effective disbursement than the last year’s Ramazan package. He also directed them to ensure that eligible low-income households were included in the assistance program to the maximum extent possible and called for the creation of a digital dashboard and monitoring system to oversee implementation.
The prime minister noted a Social Protection Wallet system was being introduced under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), which would provide SIM cards to eligible beneficiaries. From March 2026 onward, he said, assistance payments would be digitally distributed through these SIMs.
Sharif also directed the shifting of loss-making electricity feeders of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company and Quetta Electric Supply Company to solar power with the cooperation of local communities and provincial governments to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in remote areas of the country. This initiative, he said, would help reduce financial losses of deficit-running feeders and provide continuous and affordable electricity to those regions.
The prime minister stressed on ensuring consultation with elected representatives and active community participation to guarantee the success and sustainability of pilot projects.
The meeting was informed that transitioning loss-making feeders to solar power would create environmentally friendly, low-cost, and sustainable power generation. The project will be implemented through a partnership involving local communities, provincial governments, and the federal government.