**Headline: “Pakistan’s Ramadan Package Faces Criticism: Can 5,000 Rupees Cover Family Needs?”**

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recently announced a Ramadan package that will provide 5,000 rupees to 2 crore citizens via digital wallets. The government has allocated 20 billion rupees for this initiative, which is a significant increase from last year’s 7 billion rupees. However, questions are being raised about whether this amount is sufficient to cover a family’s expenses for an entire month.

**Can 5,000 Rupees Really Last a Month?**

To gain insight into the practicality of the government’s Ramadan package, spoke with a local grocery store owner, Mohammad Amir. According to Amir, with 5,000 rupees, a family could buy the following essentials:

– 15 kg of flour (1,280 rupees)
– 1 kg of sugar (150 rupees)
– 1 pack of ghee (410 rupees)
– 1 pack of oil (430 rupees)
– 1 kg of chickpeas (380 rupees)
– 1 kg of moong dal (410 rupees)
– 1 kg of rice (240 rupees)
– 1 kg of dates (450 rupees)
– 1 kg of besan (320 rupees)
– Half a pound of tea (320 rupees)

This totals 4,450 rupees, leaving 550 rupees for other expenses. With this remaining amount, a small quantity of milk (approximately 2.7 kg) can be bought. However, when broken down, it becomes clear that this amount of food is far from enough to last a month, especially for a family with children.

**Will 5,000 Rupees Last the Whole Month?**

If a family consists of four adults and two children, the food items purchased would last only a few weeks:
– 15 kg of flour would last about 20 days.
– 2.7 kg of milk would last less than a week.
– Ghee and oil would last 10-15 days with careful usage.

**Public Reactions:**

Citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s Ramadan package, with many considering it insufficient in light of the rising costs of living:
– A housekeeper, Amina, stated that 5,000 rupees barely covers a week’s worth of groceries, calling the package “embarrassing” for the poor.
– Another Afghan refugee highlighted that the government should focus on reducing the cost of essential goods to make the 5,000 rupees more effective.

**Conclusion:**

While the government’s Ramadan initiative aims to support low-income families, the amount of 5,000 rupees falls short in meeting the needs of an average household. With the current inflation and rising food prices, the Ramadan package is seen by many as a step in the right direction, but it remains inadequate in offering meaningful relief to those struggling the most.