LAHORE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has written a letter to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif expressing his good wishes for the forthcoming elections in Pakistan and the Sharif family.
In the letter, the Turkish President wrote about the friendly ties between the two countries and said that those ties would be further strengthened due to Shehbaz’s cooperation, reported local media.
While political parties are busy campaigning in the run-up to the elections, the Sharif family remains divided, with former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in prison.
Nawaz was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with a fine of £8 million (1.3 billion rupees), while Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (335 million rupees).
Maryam’s husband Capt. (Retd.) Mohammad Safdar was sentenced to one year in prison in the Avenfield corruption reference case.
Nawaz and his daughter were arrested on their return from London on July 13.
President Erdogan sends good wishes to Sharif family for upcoming elections
President Erdogan sends good wishes to Sharif family for upcoming elections
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has written a letter to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif expressing his good wishes for the forthcoming elections in Pakistan and the Sharif family
- In the letter, the Turkish President described the friendly ties between the two countries, which he said would be strengthened through Shehbaz’s cooperation
Pakistan launches digital cash aid for low-income families during Ramadan, PM says
- Ramadan relief moves from state-run Utility Stores to targeted digital wallet transfers
- Government to transfer financial assistance through wallets to support sehri, iftar expenses
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will provide financial assistance to low-income households through digital wallets during the fasting month of Ramadan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, announcing a government relief initiative aimed at helping families afford daily meals.
The support program comes as many Pakistanis continue to face elevated food and utility costs despite easing inflation, with Ramadan traditionally increasing household spending on staple foods, fruits and energy consumption.
For decades, government-run Utility Stores Corporation outlets were central to Ramadan relief in Pakistan, selling subsidized flour, sugar, ghee and pulses through special “Ramzan packages” that drew long queues in low-income neighborhoods. In recent years, however, authorities have steadily scaled back the system amid mounting losses, corruption complaints and logistical inefficiencies, shifting instead toward targeted cash transfers delivered through digital wallets and banking channels.
The change reflects a broader policy move away from state-managed commodity distribution toward direct financial assistance intended to give households flexibility while reducing leakages in subsidy programs.
“The Government of Pakistan has launched a Ramadan package under which financial assistance will be transferred to deserving individuals through digital wallets so that households can maintain sehri and iftar meals,” Sharif said in a message issued by his office.
The prime minister said Ramadan encourages compassion and collective responsibility toward vulnerable segments of society, adding that welfare support was part of the state’s duty during the holy month.
Officials say the digital cash transfers approach improves transparency and reduces corruption risks while enabling faster payments nationwide, particularly in urban low-income communities.
But the shift to fully digital assistance also brings challenges.
Access to smartphones and reliable mobile Internet remains uneven, particularly in rural areas and among older recipients, while many low-income households use SIM cards registered to someone else, complicating verification.
