ISLAMABAD:

The government on Monday reviewed progress on the Prime Minister’s Ramazan Relief Package 2026, directing banks and payment institutions to accelerate account activation and fund disbursements to beneficiaries ahead of the holy month.

The review took place at a high-level meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, with participation from partner financial institutions and representatives of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), according to an official statement.

The minister underscored the urgency of completing account creation and activation at full scale and instructed institutions to speed up the release of funds over the coming days. He stressed that all remaining beneficiaries must be mobilised immediately to ensure seamless activation and onward crediting of relief amounts in line with the prime minister’s directives.

Officials from partner financial institutions briefed the meeting on progress made in opening new accounts, reactivating dormant accounts and carrying out disbursements through both cash and digital channels. Institutions, including commercial banks, microfinance banks and digital payment providers, shared updates on measures taken to meet the requirements of the Ramazan relief package and reiterated their commitment to close coordination during the implementation phase.

The SBP representative informed the meeting that ATM awareness flyers were being displayed across partner institutions to facilitate beneficiaries on accessing funds. To prevent delays, the federal minister directed that required funds be transferred promptly for onward release to partner institutions and instructed them to share daily progress reports with the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety.

The daily updates, the statement said, would help ensure transparency, effective oversight and real-time monitoring of the relief programme as disbursements continue across the country.

The minister approved all directions issued during the meeting for immediate implementation, reiterating the government’s resolve to ensure timely delivery of assistance to eligible families during Ramazan through coordinated efforts with financial institutions and the central bank. He also appreciated the proactive role of partner institutions and the central bank, noting that close coordination was essential for uninterrupted implementation and smooth disbursement. He said the objective was to provide timely, dignified relief to beneficiaries and ensure the process remained efficient throughout Ramazan nationwide.