Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Wednesday that 9.6 million families and more than 10,000 grocery stores have been registered in the Prime Minister’s ration subsidy program.
In a tweet, he said that the number of registered families and stores was constantly increasing.
Through this program, he said, 20 million families would get a 30% subsidy on flour, pulses, and ghee.
He said that a subsidy of Rs. 120 billion would be provided to deserving families through 700,000 grocery stores in the country.
96لاکھ خاندان اوردس ہزار سے زیادہ کریانہ سٹور وزیراعظم کےراشن رعائت پروگرام میں رجسٹر ہو چکے ہیں,اس تعداد میں مسلسل اضافہ ہو رہا ہےاس پروگرام کے ذریعے دو کروڑ خاندان آٹا،دال اورگھی پر30فیصدرعائت حاصل کرینگےجبکہ7 لاکھ کریانہ سٹور120 ارب کی سبسڈی خاندانوں کو دینےکا ذریعہ بنیں گے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 15, 2021
PTI government’s mega welfare project
Last month, the PTI government formally kicked off the subsidized ration program for the poor. The Ehsaas Rashan Riayat program aims to reduce the impact of inflation on the marginalized segments of society.
PM Imran said the government had announced a historic Ehsas food subsidy package worth Rs120 billion that would benefit over 20 million households.
Read more: Food security in danger: Pakistan Economy Watch
“The Ehsaas Ration Discount Program will provide groceries to about 20 million families by covering 130 million people and giving them 30 percent discount on the purchase of essential food items,” he said, adding that about 53% of the country’s total population would be benefited. Families with less than Rs50,000 per month income are eligible for the Ehsas Ration discount program.
The grocery stores which are selected for this program after thorough verification will receive a rational amount in commission as an encouragement to serve the poor customers shopping under this program.
The prime minister also urged the elected representatives to visit their constituencies and inform people and owners of grocery stores about the benefits and procedures of the Ehas Ration Program’s registration.
Read more: Ensuring Food Security in Pakistan
He also said that another welfare program was being launched to benefit about two million poor families, adding interest-free loans up to Rs500,000 to each family, technical education, and Rs2.7 million for construction of a house to live in a prosperous and dignified life.
Courtesy: APP with additional input by GVS