This Ramadan, the free ration distribution for deserving families has fallen to its lowest level in three years. Rising inflation has forced many small social organizations to cut back or stop their annual aid programs. Families who once relied on these Ramadan gift packs are now receiving smaller quantities or, in some cases, nothing at all.
Small city-based NGOs, which used to support 200 to 300 families annually, have now scaled back their outreach to around 100 families, while some have stopped distribution entirely. The contents of Ramadan gift packs, including flour, pulses, rice, cooking oil, dates, and other essentials now have been reduced in both quantity and variety.
“Prices have nearly doubled. A pack that used to cost Rs3,000 to Rs3,500 now costs Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000,” said Hafiz Haji Naveed Khan, secretary general of a local social organization. He added that donations from affluent donors have declined, further limiting the support available to the needy.
Even daily items like cooking oil and flour have become significantly more expensive. A large bottle of juice (Jam-e- Shirin) 1.5 ml now costs around Rs 800, while essential staple such as pulses continue to climb in price.
Despite these challenges, larger organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates continue to distribute free rations, though smaller NGOs struggle to keep up. Some groups have shifted from giving gift packs to providing modest cash envelopes of around Rs2,000. Government-supplied subsidized flour has also been excluded from packs in several areas due to quality concerns.
Residents have felt the impact firsthand, a longtime beneficiary in Jhanda Chichi, recalled that a local personality used to distribute rations every year, helping many women in the community. Last year, few families received support, and this year there was none.