RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Saturday said that Rs10,000 in cash was disbursed to 33,000 deserving persons across the district during the holy month of Ramazan.

The payments were being made as per the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER) data.

“The pay orders will be delivered to beneficiaries’ doorsteps to save them from the inconvenience of paying visits to the offices of public institutions,” he said.

For the said purpose, union council secretaries and revenue department officials have completed arrangements to ensure transparent distribution of pay orders under the Nighaban Ramazan package, he said. He added that the staff was briefed about the correct and effective distribution procedures of the Ramazan package, timely completion of records and steps to facilitate the public.

He said that under the supervision of assistant commissioners, committees comprising officers from the local government, revenue department and others have been constituted, which are delivering these pay orders to the doorstep of the beneficiaries.

Giving a brief on the delivery of pay orders, the deputy commissioner was apprised during a meeting that a total of 95,596 beneficiaries were registered with the PSER in the Rawalpindi district.

So far, 33,000 pay orders have been received across the district and all of them have been disbursed.

According to officials, as many as 27,777 have been pending and they will be delivered before the 10th of the Ramazan.

Mr Cheema instructed all the officials to remain extra vigilant. He said no mismanagement or negligence will be tolerated in the delivery of this package.

The review meeting on the distribution of Nighaban Ramzan pay orders, held at the deputy commissioner’s office, was attended by officials of relevant departments. About the price checking drive, it was apprised that the district administration conducted 84,997 shop inspections across the district and 169 shops were sealed as a result.

Moreover, 141 shopkeepers were arrested for overcharging.

The administration imposed Rs2.1 million fines on shopkeepers which was highest in the province, officials said.

It was informed that there was no shortage of sugar in the market and so far, 5,485 kgs of sugar had been sold for Rs130 per kg.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema said that there was zero tolerance for the violators of the official price list.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2025