KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced Ramadhan Package worth Rs 22.5 billion aimed at supporting 60 percent of Sindh population, particularly those who earn minimum wage between Rs 32,000 to Rs 35,000 per month.

Targeted families will receive Rs 5,000 cash each through banks. Mechanism for this will be announced within next two days. CM directed all divisional commissioners to start crackdown against hoarders and profiteers from today and report him.

He took these decisions while presiding over meeting regarding Ramadhan Package and other arrangements, including price control. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, IG Police Riffat Mukhtar, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, Secretary Agriculture Aijaz Shah, Secretary Food Nasir Abbas Soomro, Adl IG Karachi Khadim Rind, Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, all deputy commissioner of Karachi, representatives of KE and SSGC attended.

During briefing to CM, Dr Fakhre Alam informed that there were 4.5 million deserving families in province who were earning between Rs 32,000 to Rs 35,000 per month or less. CM said that those families constituted 60 percent of population and he had decided to provide them with Ramadhan Package of Rs 5,000 cash each.

Shah instructed Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput to send his representatives-an assistant commissioner and Mukhtiarkar-to be present at time of auction of vegetables and fruits at sabzi mandi and issue prices accordingly.

He directed IG Police to give instructions to district police to support district administration in price control exercise and crackdown being started against hoarders and profiteers.

He instructed Karachi Electric, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company and Sukkur Electric Power Company not to implement load shedding during Iftar and Saheri. He mentioned that Sui Southern Gas Company had started load shedding and requested it to exempt domestic consumers during Ramadhan and provide them maximum facilitation.

He directed Zakat Department to start releasing a Rs 14,000 guzara allowance among 110,000 registered families each. He told administration that he would personally pay surprise visits to city to check prices, quality of fruits, vegetables and other commodities.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 08 2024

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