PESHAWAR, Feb 22 (APP):The people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa here Sunday widely hailed the Prime Minister Ramazan Relief Package worth Rs. 38 billion.
A wave of relief and gratitude is being felt among people of all walks of life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the announcement of a Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif few days ago, winning hearts of millions.
The package, aimed at supporting 12.1 million deserving families across Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, focusing on direct financial assistance of Rs13,000 per family through digital wallets and bank transfers.
The package many here said restored the dignity and prestige of underprivileged and poor people while easing their financial stress.
In the bustling streets of Qisa Khwani in Peshawar, 83-year-old retired government employee Misal Khan described the initiative as a great gift for the common man during Ramazan.
With inflation rising and prices of essential commodities especially vegitable, flour and fruits going up, this relief package will help families manage Sehri and Iftar expenses with ease.
“The Prime Minister has won hearts and minds of millions people by ensuring the support reaches poor people without discrimination.”
Like many pensioners and Govt employees besides NGOs living on fixed incomes, Misal Khan said even small price hikes in flour, sugar, and cooking oil strained monthly budgets in KP. “This much needed assistance comes at the right time for people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa,” he added.
For Riazul Haq, a former primary school teacher, the most reassuring aspect of the package is its transparent distribution mechanism.
“The Rs13,000 will be transferred through digital wallets or bank accounts. This protects the dignity of millions of poor people and saves them from standing in long queues during fasting,” he said.
In previous years, Ramazan relief efforts were often marred by overcrowded utility stores and complaints about substandard food items. Many beneficiaries recalled waiting for hours under the sun inbtye past, an experience Riazul Haq called it painful and undignified.
This year’s digital-first approach, he strongly believed, marks a significant shift toward accountability and efficiency.
Daily wage labourers Irshad Khan and Muhammad Rafique said the package will help provide better meals for his children during Ramazan.
“Work is uncertain. Some days we earn, some days we don’t,” they shared. “Knowing that Rs13,000 will come directly into my account gives them peace of mind.”
Farmer Fazal-e-Rabi and tailor Siyar Ali from Nowshera district echoed similar sentiments and lauded Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
Rising input costs and fluctuating crop prices have squeezed farming households in KP where district administration failed to control the soaring prices of daily commodities in Ramazan.
“This support will help us manage household expenses while we prepare for the wheat crop season,” he said.
Economist Muhammad Naeem and Sumbul Riaz termed the initiative one of the largest federal relief efforts in recent years, noting that Rs10 billion of the total package has been reserved for families already registered under the government’s Kafalat programme.
For Fizilat Bibi, a widow raising four children, Ramazan often brings mixed emotions spiritual joy paired with financial anxiety.
“During Ramazan, children expect special meals. I always worry about how to manage,” she said softly. “This help under PM package means I won’t have to borrow money this time.”
Her words syrongly reflected the quiet struggles of thousands of households across the province where poor families trying to balance needs, tradition, and rising living costs.
Officials said the new payment system replaces previous distribution methods that were criticized for inefficiency and lack of transparency.
“We ended the old practice of long queues and compromised dignity,” a Shahibzada Hamza Khan, PMLN Nowshera President remarked. “A major commitment was made last year to transfer cash through a digital system. It is a new initiative aimed at ending corruption and ensuring support reaches the deserving directly.”
For millions, this year the spiritual warmth of the holy month comes with an added financial support that many here believe will help ease their financial difficulty.