Malik Muhammad Bostan, Chairman of the Currency Exchange Companies Association, has called upon federal and provincial governments to establish a transparent system for the forthcoming Ramadan relief package, citing the historical mismanagement that led to the closure of utility stores previously tasked with providing low-cost food items.
While commending Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initiative for social protection, Bostan emphasised the need for a new, transparent framework to replace what he termed the “exploitative system of the past,” referencing the Prime Minister”s own assurances on the matter.
He lauded the premier’s plan to provide financial assistance to low-income and middle-class households as a commendable step, urging that proposals be developed to specifically alleviate the economic pressures on the middle class, ensuring they can access food at affordable prices.
The association chairman appealed to the Prime Minister to direct all relevant institutions to ensure a more effective and beneficial support package is available for Ramadan 2026, with preparations beginning in February. This, he stated, would allow deserving, poor, and working-class families to observe the holy month with dignity and peace.
Recalling the previous year”s efforts, Bostan noted that in 2025, the government provided direct financial assistance of 10,000 rupees to each deserving family, alongside subsidies on essential ration items such as flour, sugar, pulses, ghee, and rice.
He also stated that last year, a government allocation of 20 billion rupees facilitated payments of 5,000 rupees to 4 million families, impacting approximately 20 million individuals, through a digital distribution system. Expressing his approval for the 2026 programme, Bostan voiced his hope that the government would provide even greater financial support to deserving families than in the previous year.