ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has put together funds for an already approved Rs39 billion Ramazan package for the beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The package envisages a one-time payment of Rs13,000 per family.
The meeting of the ECC, presided over remotely by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, took up a single-point agenda — the Ramazan package — on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
An official of the ministry of industries, which moved the summary for an urgent disbursement of funds, said the ECC was requested to provide Rs25bn under the prime minister’s instructions to provide one-time cash assistance to vulnerable families during Ramazan.
The ECC agreed to provide Rs19bn immediately, and the remaining amount subsequently, in view of financial constraints.
Under the scheme, one-time payment of Rs13,000 will be made to 2.1m families
Approximately 2.1 million non-BISP Kafaalat families falling in Proxy Means Test (PMT) 32-36 (including around 27,000 families up to PMT 32) have been identified through NSER, to provide one-time cash assistance of Rs13,000 per family.
In addition, an increase of Rs1,000 per quarter, already budgeted for, is required to be implemented before the end of Ramazan.
The total financial outlay of PMRRP is Rs39bn, including Rs28bn for cash assistance to 2.1m non-BISP Kafaalat families, Rs10bn for the increase of BISP stipend (already budgeted), and Rs1bn for operational expenses.
The funds will be deposited with the State Bank for onward transfer to financial institutions for direct credit to beneficiaries through conventional, branchless banking accounts, wallets, or CNIC-based disbursement.
An official statement said the ECC considered a request for Rs25bn for immediate disbursement. The finance division informed the committee that Rs19bn had already been budgeted for the Ramazan package for the current financial year and that the remaining amount would be released when needed.
“The ECC approved the immediate release of Rs19bn to enable prompt commencement of disbursement, while agreeing that any additional funds would be considered in line with evolving requirements and available fiscal space”, the statement said.
Operational expenses
The ECC granted in-principle approval for operational expenses of Rs1bn, subject to submission of comprehensive details to the Finance Division to ensure that allocations are aligned with actual needs and financial rules, the statement said.
The ECC took note of the urgency involved in initiating payments and regularised the steps already taken to facilitate early disbursement through reappropriated funds.
It was agreed that expenditures would be managed in a manner consistent with the country’s fiscal commitments and that any unutilised funds would be surrendered in accordance with established procedures.
According to the statement, of the total Rs39bn PMRRP, Rs10bn was already available with the BISP, while Rs29bn had been arranged through three components put together by the ECC on Thursday, including a technical supplementary grant, operational expenditures, and the regularisation of reappropriated funds.
“This financing structure ensures that the package is fully resourced while maintaining fiscal discipline and transparency in implementation”, the statement said.
The ECC reaffirmed the government’s commitment to extending timely and dignified support to deserving segments of society during Ramazan, while upholding fiscal responsibility and robust oversight in the implementation of relief measures.
It emphasised the need to balance expeditious disbursement of relief with fiscal prudence and transparency in operational expenditures.
The package aims to ensure transparency and objectivity in beneficiary selection through the use of data from the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER), thereby eliminating discretion and strengthening accountability.
It envisages one-time cash assistance to identified low-income households, along with enhancement of existing social protection support, with funds to be disbursed directly to beneficiaries through formal banking and digital channels to ensure secure and efficient delivery.
Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026
