ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the concerned authorities to roll out a Ramazan package without involving Utility Stores to prevent corruption and ensure timely assistance to the needy during the Islamic holy month.
Chairing a federal cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz said that past complaints regarding mismanagement and substandard goods at Utility Stores prompted the decision.
“As the Holy Ramazan is about to start, I have asked the Ministry of National Food Security to bring about a Ramazan Package without Utility Stores to prevent corruption and the sale of low-quality material. I had asked many months ago that this cannot go on with the Utility Stores,” said the prime minister in his remarks at the federal cabinet meeting chaired by him.
The prime minister added the package is aimed at preventing corruption and the distribution of low-quality commodities to people.
Last month, the federal cabinet formed a high-level committee to develop a comprehensive strategy for the prompt shutdown of USC operations country-wide.
He informed the cabinet members that last year, the government had received immense complaints about the execution of the Ramazan Package by the Utility Stores.
Traditionally, the Prime Minister’s Ramazan package is distributed to the general public through utility stores. However, the committee was also assigned to develop a strategy for delivering the package in collaboration with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Anti-Polio drive
About the launch of the polio vaccination drive, he mentioned the killing of a policeman Abdul Khaliq in Jamrud who was deployed on the security of the polio team and paid tribute to his sacrifice to make Pakistan a polio-free nation.
He also lauded the services of PM’s Coordinator on Health Dr Mukhtar, Polio Coordinator Dr Ayesha Farooq, secretary health and polio vaccinators for their tireless efforts to rid the country of this crippling disease.
He also briefed the cabinet members about his Quetta visit on Monday adding that he visited the hospital to inquire after the security personnel who were injured in an anti-terror operation in Kalat in which 18 security personnel were martyred and 23 terrorists were eliminated.
“I met the injured. They were in high morale and were even ready to sacrifice their lives for the country.
These are the martyrs and Ghazis who are resolved to rid the country of terrorism and striving day and night for the cause,” he remarked.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the soldiers of the army, police, FC and Rangers sacrificing their lives were actually bearing the brunt of the blunderous policies of a government in the past when thousands of terrorists were set free.
The cabinet members also offered Fateha for the martyred security personnel as well as the policeman on the polio duty.
Vows to promote economic growth
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said that his government was committed to taking the country towards economic growth.
The prime minister expressed pleasure over the inflation coming down to a nine-year low at 2.4% from 28.73% on a month-to-month basis.
He congratulated the entire nation, the cabinet members particularly the finance minister, his team, FBR and others for their efforts during the last 11 months to bring the inflation down to the lowest level.
“Now, we are fully striving to head toward economic growth… This is the main challenge. All of our energies will be focused on economic growth. Just like other targets, we will achieve this too,” he resolved.
It is pertinent to mention that headline inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), decreased to 9.6pc in August 2024, the first single-digit figure in more than three years, and the path of slowing down continued in the following months.
However, a rising trend was witnessed in the prices of sugar, vegetables and edible oils in the domestic market despite declining prices in the international market.
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The premier expressed confidence in achieving economic growth, noting a decline in inflation numbers.
Shehbaz also mentioned the $1.2 billion agreement with Saudi Arabia, emphasising that it would strengthen foreign exchange reserves. He also lauded another deal with the Saudi Development Fund, which will provide $41 million for a water scheme in Mansehra.
A day ago, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed two $1.61 billion agreements — one about oil import on deferred payment for one year and the other to a water scheme.
He said that the entire nation would observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on Wednesday to express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren.
