ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government is set to launch a ration card scheme that aims to provide free food to 10 million families every month, chairman of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) spearheading the initiative told Arab News in an exclusive interview on Sunday.
The USC – a state-owned enterprise that operates around 4,500 retail stores across the poverty-stricken country and provides basic commodities at subsidized rates – will shortlist eligible registered candidates through a stringent verification process.
“The deserving families will get free ration worth Rs3,000 [$19] every month through utility stores in their respective areas, while widows and elderly people would get it delivered at their homes free of cost. The project will be completed within two years,” USC chief, Zulqiurnain Ali Khan, said
With an initial funding of Rs3 billion per month, the project will be launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the next few days.
“Applicants can register for the program by sharing their national identity card numbers on a short code,” Khan said.
The government has sought sponsorships for the project from philanthropists, overseas Pakistanis, companies and corporations to ensure the maximum number of families benefit from the initiative, the chairman said.
“We are working with 20 different international aid groups for the program. In UK, we are encouraging philanthropists to pay £15 a month to sponsor a poor family in Pakistan,” he said, adding that donors, companies and individuals can choose who they want to sponsor.
According to data compiled by the World Bank, nearly 24.3 percent live below the poverty line in Pakistan which has a population of nearly 220 million.
In recent years, Pakistan has launched several welfare schemes, including a monthly cash stipend and skills development programs.
Additionally, to support daily wage workers, the USC has been providing at least 18 essential food items – including sugar, rice, wheat flour, milk, lentils and different spices – at a 20 to 30 percent lower rate than those compared to the open market.
“We have distributed free ration packs to at least 50,000 poor families across Pakistan along with serving over four million customers during Ramadan,” Khan said.
To ensure transparency in the sale and purchase of different items, the government has allocated $20 million for IT deployment at the USC and moved all operations online which will be monitored through a central control room in Islamabad.
The move, he said, is part of PM’s Khan vision “to make Pakistan a real welfare state.”
“We are working tirelessly to achieve it.”
Ready to kickstart monthly food scheme for 10 million families, Pakistan says
https://arab.news/5jxt7
Ready to kickstart monthly food scheme for 10 million families, Pakistan says
- The project, where ration stores distribute free food to verified families, slated for completion in two years
- $20mln allocated for project’s IT and online development
Saudi, Pakistani officials discuss avenues for enhanced strategic cooperation
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains
- Last year, both nations signed a landmark defense pact formalizing military ties into binding security commitment
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Saudi officials have held discussions on avenues for enhanced strategic cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said on Friday.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains, underpinned by deep religious and cultural ties. The two countries maintain high-level engagements and consultations on regional and global developments, often aligning on issues related to peace, stability and the Muslim world.
In September last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark defense pact, under which aggression against one country will be treated as an attack against both. The pact signaled a push by both governments to formalize long-standing military ties into a binding security commitment.
On Friday, Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki met with Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik in Islamabad, according to a PID statement.
“During the meeting, both sides held comprehensive discussions on avenues for enhanced mutual and strategic cooperation,” the statement said.
Malik highlighted Pakistan’s priorities in climate resilience and sustainable development, and emphasized the importance of international partnerships in addressing global environmental challenges, according to the PID. He appreciated Saudi Arabia’s continued support and engagement with Pakistan across multiple sectors.
“The Saudi ambassador reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation,” it said. “Both sides reiterated the deep-rooted, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and expressed confidence that the longstanding partnership would continue to grow.”
