Govt approves Rs20bn cash distribution during Ramadan

Islamabad: The federal government has approved a Rs20 billion Ramadan package, which will be provided to 4 million deserving people in the form of direct cash.

Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, while responding to questions from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senators Shahadat Awan and Sherry Rehman in the Senate on Friday, said that provincial governments will also provide cash under the same model for the Ramadan package.

He denied reports of closing the Utility Stores Corporation and clarified that the institution is undergoing a reform process through privatization, which aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Government employees’ protest

The issue of protesting employees of the Pakistan Secretariat was also discussed in the House, where various members of the Senate criticized the government over the problems of low-paid government employees.

The senators said that on the one hand, the government is claiming to reduce inflation, while on the other hand government employees are protesting for an increase in salaries, which shows the serious situation of poverty in the country.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar told the Senate that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to resolve the issues of the protesting employees as soon as possible.

He added that the Finance Minister is constantly in touch with them to resolve the legitimate demands of the protesting government employees and this matter will be resolved in a day or two.

Criticism of ‘right-sizing’ of ministries

The government’s plan to reduce 43 ministries and 400 affiliated institutions was also strongly criticized in the Senate.

However, the Law Minister assured that the rights of the employees will be fully protected.

He said that the sole purpose of this process is to reduce the financial burden on the economy so that by reducing non-developmental expenses, resources can be used to promote economic activities, which will create employment opportunities in the private sector.

Other important matters

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar also presented the ‘Society Registration Amendment Ordinance 2024’ in the Senate.

The session began with the recitation of Fateha for those martyred in various terrorist incidents in the country.

Later, the House was adjourned indefinitely.