ECC clears Rs19bn immediate release for PM Ramazan relief package

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the immediate release of Rs19 billion for the Prime Minister’s Ramazan Relief Package, aimed at providing targeted financial assistance to low-income households during the holy month.

The decision was taken at an ECC meeting held in Islamabad and chaired remotely by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The committee also agreed that additional funds could be considered depending on evolving requirements and available fiscal space.

The Ramazan Relief Package 2026, formally launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, has a total outlay of Rs38 billion and is expected to benefit more than 12 million families through digital payment mechanisms.

The finance ministry said the ECC granted in-principle approval for Rs1 billion in operational expenditures, instructing that detailed cost breakdowns be submitted to the Finance Division to ensure transparency, fiscal discipline, and compliance with financial regulations. The committee further stressed the need to balance rapid relief delivery with strict financial oversight, noting that any unutilised funds would be surrendered under established procedures.

According to the ministry, the programme will use National Socio-Economic Registry data to objectively identify eligible beneficiaries, with funds disbursed directly through formal banking and digital channels to ensure secure and dignified delivery.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously said the government scrapped the traditional in-kind distribution system, citing poor-quality supplies and long queues that undermined recipients’ dignity.