Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched the Ramadan Package 2025, announcing that 4 million households approximately 20 million Pakistanis will receive financial assistance of Rs5,000 per family via a digital wallet.

He expressed gratitude for the reduced inflation this year during the holy month.

During the inauguration ceremony in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz stressed the urgent need to eliminate terrorism, promising that the government will not rest until this threat is completely eradicated.

He referred to the recent suicide bombing in Akora Khattak that claimed the lives of Maulana Hamid ul Haq and several others, calling it a heartbreaking tragedy. Highlighting the significant role of the ancient seminary in providing both Islamic and modern education, he expressed the nation’s sorrow over the incident and condemned the attack.

He urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to capture the culprits and ensure they face justice.

Reflecting on past efforts, he noted that terrorism had been largely eradicated by 2018, thanks to the sacrifices of 80,000 Pakistanis, including many from the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies.

However, he acknowledged the recent resurgence of terrorism, choosing to refrain from discussing the underlying causes at this time.

PM Shehbaz also pointed out that billions of rupees in tax revenues are currently pending in various courts. He mentioned that during 2022 and 2023, the dollar’s soaring value led to unprecedented profits for banks, prompting the government to impose a windfall tax.

However, banks have successfully obtained stay orders against this tax.

In a recent development, after a Sindh High Court judge lifted a stay order, the Governor of the State Bank managed to withdraw Rs23 billion from the banks and deposit them into the treasury, an effort he praised as commendable.

He assured that this is just the beginning, with plans to recover billions from the profit-making banks.

The Prime Minister revealed that this year’s Ramadan Package has allocated a substantial Rs20 billion, benefiting 4 million families a significant increase from last year’s Rs7 billion, marking a nearly 200% rise.

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He emphasized that the Ramadan Package is designed to be inclusive and equitable, reaching deserving families across all provinces, from Karachi to Gilgit and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He commended the efforts of the State Bank, NADRA, and various tech institutions for ensuring transparency in the distribution of the package and thanked all organizations involved in delivering this assistance.

He also stated that improvements are being made to utility stores, with plans for their privatization, ensuring that there will be no long queues for the Ramadan Package this year.

Relief will be provided digitally and with dignity, addressing previous issues of corruption within utility stores. The new monitoring system will oversee the Ramadan Package’s distribution.

In closing, the Prime Minister prayed for Allah’s acceptance of the efforts made by the nation’s institutions for public welfare and expressed hope that the blessings of Ramadan would alleviate suffering and hardships across Pakistan. Long live Pakistan!