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
Pakistan PM reviews internal, regional security after Khamenei killing, Afghanistan strikes
- At least 16 people were killed and dozens more injured in clashes over killing of the Iranian supreme leader
- The unrest came amid Pakistan’s offensive against Afghan forces, which officials say has killed 415 fighters
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday convened a high-level meeting to review internal and regional security situation, Sharif’s office said, amid nationwide protests over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Islamabad’s ongoing military operation against Afghan forces.
Protests erupted in several cities across Pakistan on Sunday after the killing of the Iranian supreme leader in US-Israeli joint strikes, with at least 16 people killed and dozens more injured in clashes with law enforcement agencies.
The unrest came amid Pakistan’s ongoing military operation against Afghan forces following a series of tit-for-tat strikes by the neighbors which began after Islamabad hit what it said were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Daesh camps in Afghanistan on Feb 21-22.
During Sunday’s meeting, officials briefed PM Sharif and other participants about the country’s internal situation and security arrangements in place to thwart any untoward incident, according to Sharif’s office.
“Pakistan’s role and various measures to establish peace in the region were reviewed at the meeting,” Sharif’s office said. “The situation in Afghanistan was also reviewed in detail at the meeting.”
The development came shortly after Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that 415 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 580 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities between the neighbors began on Thursday.
Afghan officials earlier said that dozens of Pakistani soldiers had been killed and several Pakistan posts had been captured by their forces. None of the casualty figures or battlefield claims from either side could be independently verified.
Earlier in the day, gunshots and explosions were reported in Kabul. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the sounds were the result of Afghan forces targeting Pakistani aircraft over the capital.
“Air defense attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft,” Mujahid wrote on X. “Kabul residents should not be concerned.”
KHAMENEI KILLING ‘VIOLATION’ OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Separately, Sharif said the killing of Khamenei was a “violation” of international law.
“People of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom [of Khamenei],” he wrote on X.
“Pakistan also expresses concern over violation of the norms of international law.”
EVACUATION OF PAKISTANIS FROM IRAN
At Sunday’s meeting, officials of the foreign ministry also briefed the prime minister on the evacuation of Pakistani citizens from Iran, according to a statement issued from Sharif’s office.
“The evacuation of Pakistani citizens from Iran is being made possible through Azerbaijan,” they were quoted as saying.
Pakistan earlier asked its citizens in Gulf countries to exercise caution, avoid travel and strictly follow official adviseries, amid escalating tensions following the killing of Khamenei.
The foreign ministry shared emergency contact details of Pakistani embassies and consulates for the facilitation of Pakistani nationals abroad.
