اخبار مصر – وطن نيوز
اخبار مصر اليوم – اخبار اليوم في مصر
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-06-14 14:03:00
The issue of switching to cash support has returned to the forefront again, after important statements by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Dr. Sherif Farouk, during which they revealed the features of the new support system, and the state’s plans to ensure that support reaches those who deserve it, and to reduce waste within the bread and supply system. Madbouly: The transition to cash support has been postponed for decades despite the change in circumstances. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, said that the issue of switching to cash support has been a subject of hesitation and fear in dealing with it for many decades, even though the current support system is due to economic and social conditions that are completely different from the current reality, stressing that most countries in the world are currently moving towards implementing direct cash support. Prime Minister: We are reviewing the extent of eligibility of beneficiaries of ration cards. Madbouly explained that the state is working to review the conditions of beneficiaries of ration and bread cards, especially in cases where the cards were transferred through inheritance after the death of the original beneficiary, pointing out the importance of ensuring that the support reaches its true beneficiaries. Madbouly: The database of beneficiaries has exceeded 90%. The Prime Minister confirmed that the state has made great efforts over the past years to build an accurate database of beneficiaries of social protection programs, pointing out that although there is no 100% complete accuracy, the current database has exceeded 90% efficiency, allowing for the implementation of a more equitable system in distributing support. Prime Minister: Support will be directed according to segments and levels of need. Madbouly added that the government deals with society according to different segments of need, explaining that the most fragile and poorest groups will receive greater support, while support will be directed in a gradual manner according to the actual level of need for each family. Madbouly: Support is not permanent and there is entry and exit from the system. The Prime Minister indicated that support should not continue permanently without review, explaining that some families may exit the circle of need over time, while new families enter that need support, which requires the presence of a flexible system that guarantees justice and precise targeting. Madbouly: 25% of the bread subsidy is leaked to the undeserving. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly confirmed that there are improper practices within the subsidized bread system that lead to a portion of the subsidy leaking to the undeserving, explaining that the rate of leakage and inefficiency is no less than 25% of the total subsidy allocated for bread. Prime Minister: 35 billion pounds does not reach those entitled to bread subsidies. He explained that the total bread subsidy amounts to about 140 billion pounds annually, and that no less than 35 billion pounds of this amount does not reach the actual beneficiaries, stressing the necessity of redirecting these resources to the groups most in need. Madbouly: We are moving cautiously to review the system and reduce the gaps. The Prime Minister stressed that the government is dealing with this file with the utmost care, and is reviewing all the details more than once to ensure that the gaps are reduced to the lowest possible level before implementing any new system, in a way that achieves social justice and preserves the rights of citizens deserving of support. The Minister of Supply reveals the features of goods and support in the new system. Dr. Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, confirmed that the citizen will receive sums of money within the new supply system sufficient for his basic needs, noting that the Ministry is currently working to purify the ration cards to ensure that those who are not eligible for support leave and reach the most needy groups. Farouk added, in television statements, that the state monitored a number of ration cards that their owners had left for others to illegally obtain food supplies, stressing that this matter contradicts the primary goal of the support system, and that the state is capable of providing the necessary support to deserving citizens. Minister of Supply: The state will bear the difference in the prices of basic commodities. The Minister of Supply explained that the price of a kilogram of sugar within the current system is 12.5 pounds, while in the new system it will reach 28 pounds, pointing out that the state will bear the price difference for the citizen through the new support system. Sherif Farouk: An integrated food basket for the citizen and complete freedom of choice. He continued that the state provides the citizen with an integrated food basket within the current system that includes poultry, sugar, oil, pasta, ghee and eggs, stressing that obtaining these goods is not obligatory, and that the citizen has complete freedom to choose the goods he wishes to purchase according to his needs. Minister of Supply: Developing consumer malls to become the first resort for citizens. The Minister indicated that the Ministry is working to implement “Carry On” in the new form of consumer malls, so that it becomes the citizen’s first resort for purchasing basic goods, in addition to the outlets spread across various governorates. He added that these outlets will provide a strong competitive opportunity for outlets and duty-free shops, especially since they will operate throughout the day, which contributes to improving the level of service and providing goods to citizens on an ongoing basis. Sherif Farouk: The current support system does not satisfy us and is wasteful. The Minister of Supply revealed that the current supply system is not at a satisfactory level for the citizen, explaining that the true criterion is that support reaches those who deserve it. He stressed that the current ration system is inefficient and causes waste, pointing out that some bakeries exploit citizens, and that modifying the support system does not aim to save money, but rather improve the efficiency of distribution. He explained that the state increases support allocations year after year, and there is no intention to reduce them, stressing that developing the system will not take place without relying on accurate data and the participation of all relevant government agencies. Minister of Supply: Exit and entry into the new support system is a dynamic matter. Sherif Farouk revealed that the Ministry of Supply sets the price of local and free bread, explaining that a loaf weighing 70 grams is set at a price of 150 piasters, and bakeries must adhere to that. He pointed out that there are 32,000 municipal bakeries nationwide, in addition to about 3,000 tourist bakeries. He confirmed that the bakery owner sells the subsidized loaf for 20 piasters and receives the rest of its value from the government, explaining that the bakery is an essential partner in the support system. He added that the presence of two prices for one commodity leads to an imbalance, stressing that the Ministry will continue to oblige bakeries to the legally specified prices. He pointed out that whenever a citizen saves on bread, he receives financial compensation that enables him to buy other goods, stressing that entry and exit from the support system will remain an ongoing and dynamic process according to the level of need. Minister of Supply: We discuss the value of cash support in a way that ensures citizens’ satisfaction. The Minister of Supply confirmed that 83% of the beneficiaries of the “Solidarity and Dignity” program deserve to receive food support, explaining that the citizen benefiting from the support falls under an integrated social protection network that includes multiple forms of support. He added that the citizen receives 150 loaves of bread and an additional 50 pounds of subsidy per month, explaining that this value previously provided a bottle of oil, a bag of pasta, and a kilo of sugar, but the change in prices requires a continuous review of the subsidy values. He pointed out that the Ministry of Supply’s support allocations rose to about 180 billion pounds, in light of the continuous increases in prices, with the aim of meeting the burdens of living. He stressed that the Ministry is discussing with various state agencies the value of the new increase in cash support, noting that every meeting with the government or the President of the Republic witnesses a continuous review of the value of the support, including, in the same context, the new philosophy of the system is to transform the current in-kind support into something similar to a “financial commodity wallet” inside the ration card, through which the total value of the support is calculated according to the free prices of the goods, allowing the citizen to use his balance to buy the food commodities or bread he needs without being bound by specific quotas. Integrating support for bread and rationed goods within a unified system Informed sources revealed to “Masrawy” that the government aims to integrate support for bread and rationed goods and the difference in bread points into a unified framework within this wallet, so that the total support borne by the state for each beneficiary is evaluated and made available electronically within the ration card. Estimates from sources indicate that the average value of support for an individual amounts to about 325 pounds per month, including the cost of subsidized bread and the difference in support for food commodities, with the possibility of the value varying between different segments according to the level of entitlement. 4 main segments to determine the value of the support. According to the proposed scenario, citizens will be divided into four main segments within the new monetary support system. The first tranche includes the most needy groups, which will receive the full value of the support without any discounts. The second bracket includes middle-income groups, which will receive partial support according to the level of eligibility. While the third segment includes families close to the sufficient level, which will receive relatively less support compared to the most needy groups. The fourth segment includes families whose economic conditions have witnessed a significant improvement, and who may be gradually removed from the support system. This classification is based on government databases that include income, spending, ownership, and possession, with the aim of ensuring that support reaches its actual beneficiaries. Complete freedom for the citizen to choose goods. The sources confirmed that the citizen will have the full right to use the value of the subsidy according to his needs, whether in purchasing bread or food supplies or mixing them, at the free price declared for each commodity. Under the new system, the system moves from specifying fixed goods and quantities to a more flexible model that gives the beneficiary freedom of choice and addresses price distortions resulting from multiple pricing levels for one commodity. The continuation of the ration agents and the “Jamiati” outlets. It is planned that the disbursement of goods will continue through the ration agents, the “Jamiati” outlets, and the consumer complexes, with these outlets obtaining goods from the stores of companies affiliated with the Ministry of Supply. This approach aims to maintain price stability, ensure the availability of basic goods, and prevent any monopolistic practices that may affect consumers. The system will also be linked to organized supply chains that guarantee the provision of basic commodities, primarily oil, sugar, rice, pasta, legumes, sauce, and other food products. Conditional cash support does not mean disbursing direct funds. The sources stressed that switching to conditional cash support does not mean giving citizens cash directly, but rather is limited to providing an electronic support balance allocated for spending on food goods and catering services. She confirmed that the government aims to present the full vision for community dialogue during the coming period before the start of the pilot application of the system. Government: There is no harm to those entitled to support, and the increase in allocations continues. The sources confirmed that the state is continuing to raise support allocations, and that the goal of the new system is not to reduce support or reduce the number of beneficiaries, but rather to redirect it with greater efficiency and ensure that it reaches the groups most cared for. She added that the new system aims to achieve a greater degree of social justice and make optimal use of the resources allocated for support, while preserving the rights of deserving citizens.
