TAXILA: As many as 11,414 poor and needy families registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) would get free food hampers at their doorstep under the Ramazan package in Hazro.

Assistant Commissioner Hazro Rana Kamran Ashraf stated this while talking to mediaperson after presiding over a meeting held to finalise the arrangements for the Ramazan package on Thursday.

Responding to a question, Mr Ashraf said that four-layered teams have been formed to check the quality and quantity of food items, which will ensure the transparency of the programme along with the quality of essential items.

“As per the directives of the provincial government, food hampers under the Ramazan package will be delivered to the doorsteps of the beneficiaries with dignity and respect, while the officials of the respective union councils (UCs) will carry out the distribution of food hampers after physical verification of registered people,” he added.

In response to another question, assistant commissioner Hazro noted that the food hampers provided to each registered family of BISP under the Ramadan package would comprise 2 kg of rice, 2 kg of ghee, 2 kg of sugar, 2 kg of gram flour, and a bag of 10 kg of flour.

He added that the Patwar circle-wise verification process has been started, and the process of distribution of food hampers will be completed from March 5 to March 20.

Besides, emergency measures are also being taken in this regard, he said.

Regarding the mechanism of the distribution of the Ramadan package, he articulated, “We have the data of the beneficiaries of the Ramadan package; in this regard, we will create a special calendar in which the Patwar circle-wise teams will contact the beneficiaries before the relevant date so they can stay at their homes and the goods provided are genuine.”

He requested that the families registered in the BISP keep their registered phone numbers on so the dispatch teams can contact them and hand over the food items on time.

Officials of BISP, local administration, revenue department, utility stores, and office bearers of the local traders union were also present in this regard.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2024