Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched a province-wide Ramazan Relief Plan with price checks, traffic management, Dastarkhwans and complaint helplines to ease public hardship.
High-Level Plan to Ease Public Hardship
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced a comprehensive Ramazan Relief Plan aimed at providing maximum ease and comfort to citizens during the holy month. The initiative is designed to tackle price hikes, improve basic services and protect the dignity of people across the province.
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations and coordinate the response of different departments. During the session, he issued detailed instructions to provincial departments and district administrations to ensure that the plan is implemented smoothly on the ground rather than remaining only on paper.
Officials were reminded that Ramazan is a time of spiritual reflection and social responsibility, and that the state has a duty to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation, unnecessary hardship and disorder in markets and public spaces.
Price Monitoring, Enforcement and Market Cooperation
A central pillar of the relief plan is strict monitoring of prices for essential commodities. The meeting was informed that price monitoring desks have been set up in all districts to keep a constant watch on rates of key food items and daily-use goods throughout the month.
The Chief Secretary directed authorities to continue taking firm action against hoarding, adulteration, artificial inflation and profiteering. Additional price magistrates have been deployed to ensure quick inspections and penalties where violations are detected.
At the same time, officials were told to maintain close coordination with market associations and trader bodies. The Chief Secretary emphasised that effective enforcement must be combined with cooperation and mutual respect, so that businesses remain part of the solution rather than seeing the drive only as a crackdown.
Respectful Treatment and Role of Religious Scholars
The Ramazan Relief Plan also places strong emphasis on how citizens, including street vendors and daily wage earners, are treated. District administrations have been instructed to deal with everyone with dignity, compassion and in accordance with the law, avoiding unnecessary harassment or humiliation in the name of enforcement.
In recognition of the spiritual character of the month, the government is working with religious scholars to build a joint moral and social campaign against adulteration, price gouging and exploitation. A joint strategy is being drafted to encourage fairness and honesty in trade as a religious and ethical duty.
Public awareness messages will be delivered through Friday sermons, highlighting the responsibility of both traders and consumers to uphold Islamic values of justice, moderation and care for the poor during Ramazan.
Traffic, Cleanliness and Social Support Measures
Beyond prices, authorities have prepared plans to manage traffic flow and maintain cleanliness in busy markets, especially during peak shopping and Iftar hours. Better traffic management is expected to reduce congestion, accidents and frustration for commuters rushing home or to mosques.
The plan also includes the organised elimination of professional begging from key public spaces, with the aim of maintaining order and ensuring that genuine cases of need are handled through proper welfare channels rather than exploitative networks.
With support from philanthropists and welfare organisations, Ramazan Dastarkhwans will be set up at multiple locations to provide free meals to the needy and deserving. Coordination is underway with relevant departments to ensure uninterrupted electricity and gas supply in these areas so that food preparation and service can continue smoothly.
Complaint Mechanisms and Government Commitment
To ensure that problems are reported quickly and resolved on time, the provincial government has issued dedicated WhatsApp numbers in all districts. Citizens can use these contacts to report overcharging, shortages or other violations directly to the authorities.
Complaints can also be lodged through the Marastyal App, giving people a digital channel to seek help without needing to visit offices in person. Officials say that these tools will help them track issues in real time and target enforcement where it is most needed.
Reaffirming the province’s commitment, the Chief Secretary stated that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will use all available resources to facilitate the public during Ramazan. The goal, he stressed, is to turn the relief plan into visible, day-to-day improvements in prices, services and overall public comfort during the blessed month.
