RAWALPINDI: Ration packages will be distributed to 378,496 families in six districts of Rawalpindi division - Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Murree and Talagang - from Tuesday (tomorrow) onwards.

Commissioner Aamir Khattak visited the industrial estate to inspect the preparation of ration bags for the ‘Nighaban Ramazan package’ and conducted a detailed review of the quality and quantity of essential items included in the ration bags.

The commissioner was briefed that there were 378,496 households across the division who were eligible beneficiaries of the Ramazan package.

He was told that 68pc of the verification had been completed across the division so far, and 67,628 households in Rawalpindi, 45,181 in Jhelum, 5,541 in Murree, 74,624 in Attock, and 64,654 in Chakwal district had been verified.

After the visit, the commissioner presided over a meeting held with the deputy commissioners of all six districts and directed them to verify the data of the beneficiaries across the division and prepare the final list in the next two days.

Mr Khattak directed that during the packaging of the ration, the deputy commissioners should personally monitor and ensure that there was no compromise in the specified quantity and quality of the items and that the packaging should be completed by Monday.

“Deputy commissioners should also finalise their transportation and security plans by tomorrow,” the commissioner said.

He urged that transparency should be ensured during the verification of the list, and in the meantime, those who are no longer eligible for the package according to the list or who are non-verified due to an incomplete address or any other reason should be segregated into separate lists.

He asked that a control room be set up in all the deputy commissioner’s offices to monitor the processes.

Commissioner Rawalpindi directed that the relevant departments complete their arrangements on a priority basis regarding the distribution of ration bags to ensure the timely distribution.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Saif Anwar Jappa, PHA Director General Ahmed Hasan Ranjha, and other concerned officials attended this meeting in person, whereas Deputy Commissioners Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree participated through a video link.

The ration package consists of 10kg of flour and 2kg each of rice, sugar, ghee and basin.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2024