• Officials told to replicate model in future government schemes
• Premier visits Myanmar embassy, expresses solidarity after earthquake tragedy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday appreciated what he called effective and transparent implementation of the Ramazan Relief Package and directed officials to replicate the model in future government schemes.

Presiding over a meeting to review the implementation of the package, the PM lauded the performance of the government’s core team and supporting institutions.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister said the first-ever digital wallet was introduced under the package, with funds delivered to beneficiaries in a transparent manner.

The prime minister ap­­preciated the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Benazir Income Support Prog­ram­­me (BISP), Pakistan Tele­communication Authority (PTA), National Database and Registration Authority and other supporting institutions for ensuring transparency in the process.

He told the meeting that complaints received during the execution of the package would be considered for future planning.

The meeting was informed that 79 per cent of the funds had been delivered to the beneficiaries. Additionally, a total of 2,224 employees were deployed, and urgent steps were taken to resolve the 1,273 complaints received.

Besides, 1.9m digital payments were made, with 951,191 digital wallets used, which is part of the government’s move towards the Digital Nation Pakistan vision.

The participants were told that 823,653 women and 2,541 men with disabilities also used digital wallets to receive funds.

The meeting was further told that the government’s awareness campaign on the Ramazan Package was conducted through electronic, print and social media.

Additionally, banks and other partnering institutions made 6.2 million robocalls, 178,700 outbound calls, and sent 6.1 million text messages to raise awareness about the facility.

Meanwhile, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also hailed the success of the Ramazan package, stating that it was conducted without any intermediaries.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mr Iqbal said the package had set a new precedent, calling it a milestone in public-private partnership.

The government, under the Digital Pakistan vision, decided to use digital wallets for mass and digital transfer, he said, adding that previously, people would complain about leakage through the intermediaries.

PM talks to Zardari

In a separate development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned ailing President Asif Ali Zardari to inquire after his health.

The prime minister extended his best wishes for the president and prayed for his early recovery, saying that prayers of the entire nation were with President Zardari.

Mr Zardari’s personal physician, Dr Asim Hussain, said in a statement that the president will soon return to the Presidency from hospital.

PM visits Myanmar embassy

The prime minister on Friday visited the Myanmar embassy and signed the condolence book, opened by the embassy in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck the country on March 28, 2025.

He conveyed deep condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan and expressed solidarity with Myanmar in its hour of grief.

Myanmar Ambassador to Pakistan Wunna Han thanked the prime minister for his visit and also for the relief goods provided by Pakistan for those affected by the earthquake.

PM Shehbaz praised the resilience and courage of the Myanmar people and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to humanitarian support.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2025