Shahbaz Sharif announces Rs5bn Ramzan package

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

LAHORE: Punjab Chief MInister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday announced a Rs5 billion Razmzan package to benefit the consumers of the province, DawnNews reported.

Items of daily necessity would be sold to the public at cheaper rates in special markets set up under the Ramzan package.

The provincial chief minister said that 360 Ramzan bazaars and 334 'fair price shops' would be setup throughout the province during the Holy month of Ramzan where items would be sold at 'whole sale' rates.

At least 2,000 Sehr and Iftar stalls would also be set up to facilitate the fasting citizens in the province.

Announcing the package , Shrif also said that under the package wheat flour on cheaper rates would be provided to people which would be packed in seperate green-coloured bags as opposed to regular bags.

Sharif also issued instructions to nine provincial minister to perform constant monitoring duties of the Ramzan bazaars.

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Aamir

May 18, 2014 04:39pm

Pakistanis dont need your charity. We elected you to do fix the main issues of corruption, terrorism, poverty and loadshedding. Your party have failed us again.

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sohail

May 18, 2014 05:38pm

Making masses fool again. You are exposed, this time very badly and decisively.

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Hasan Abdal Wala

May 18, 2014 07:02pm

Keep the disgruntled populace under control with freebies. So they won't rise up. Just like the Roman Emperors, the bad ones, did with coliseum games and such. To keep the population distracted. They also had free bread loaves thrown at the masses too. We all know what happened to the emperors,..eventually.

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Agha Ata

May 18, 2014 07:18pm

This package should be a permanent arrangement for the poor people. People do not eat more in Ramadan, but they do eat throughout the year.

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Ganga Din

May 18, 2014 08:42pm

Well done CM.

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Ganga Din

May 18, 2014 08:55pm

Punjab is peaceful and prosperous, just as it is supposed to be.

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Ahmad Ali Rafi

May 18, 2014 09:50pm

Mr Sharif! I'm quite sure there's some kind of party interest in this charity. People really don't need this. What they need are the main basic issues like unavailability of electricity, gas etc. Don't be a businessman here, be what we pay you for.

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optimist

May 18, 2014 11:26pm

Good job once again Shahbaz Shareef. Compared to Punjab Sind has such a dismal performance record. I wonder where the Chief Minister of Sind spends his money. It is time to do an audit of Chief Minister fund.

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Ali asgher

May 19, 2014 01:21am

This is so funny, two days ago the article read the finance minister announced a 2bn package for the nation and here comes the Punjab CM announcing a 5bn package.

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Dr khan

May 19, 2014 01:45am

Come on guys don't be so negative. Atleast he is doing something good. In western countries, markets sell their goods at half prices when Christmas comes. But we get every food item at double rates. If he is concerned about this let him do. Don't critize every time just for the sake of criticism.

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Rehan

May 19, 2014 02:43am

@optimist ... Charity work is the job of philanthropists .. not the CM .. there is a reason why these elected members are called Law Makers ( not stunt men ) ....SS needs to stop being a stunt man ( every now and then coming with a so-called heroic action ) He needs to do his job as a law maker .... make permanent laws to control inflation and other things to do list that he has promised the people during the election campaign .... If you really wanna compare, compare Punjab's law makers achievements with KPK's lawmakers .. uniform education bill, Ehtesab bill, new province legislation, Food Safety authority Bill and so on ....

Recommend 0

May 19, 2014 04:05am

Dear respected Khadam-e-aala: Wisdom says that it is better to teach people how to fish instead of giving them the fish. First you wasted billions in failed 'sasti roti' scheme and now this 5 billion rupees in 'Ramzan' scheme! Has it occurred to you that same public funds could have been spent on generation of employment or on increasing agricultural production in Punjab? Charity is a virtue if given from your personal bank account - where as it is injustice when given from public funds of a poor nation for personal political gains. Is there anyone in Punjab legislature who is capable of raising the question of accountability? What about SCP, NA or the Senate?

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arfanafzal

May 19, 2014 08:42am

I like your ramzan package because this package helps us to enjoy the holy month.i request u sir plz check the quality level

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ali

May 19, 2014 08:43am

It's a sign of bad management. If you spend Rs5bn just for appeasing your own people (vote bank) in the pseudo name of religion or so called philanthropy; then obviously some questions will arise: 1.How do you bring a tangible return, except a cheaper popularity, from this unproductive investment ? I guess, the most of the people of Punjab don't want it; but you have shown your extra overwhelming agility just to exploit their soft sentiments cunningly: 2. Doesn't it a wastage of public exchequer? I also think that this a sort of whimsical state sponsored subsidies which will not satisfy all the people of different communities: 3.How do you ensure equal justice(?) to all?

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MAN FROM UNCLE

May 19, 2014 09:26am

@arfanafzal ok I will check the quality level for you...any thing else, sir.

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arfanafzal

May 22, 2014 08:56pm

Aoa.chief minister of Punjab.you are good leader of Pakistan.i like u.sir ur ramzan package very good.i am very very thanx full to u .

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arfanafzal

May 22, 2014 09:01pm

@MAN FROM UNCLE well ,this is to much.i am very thanx full .thanx .arfan

Recommend 0

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