Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday decided in principle to provide subsidy on five essential items, including wheat flour, sugar, ghee/edible oil, pulses and rice for the poor and backward segments during the next fiscal year. The said subsidy, a major relief for the poor and backward segments, would be provided across the country through Utility Stores. The prime minister was presiding over a high level meeting about the Utility Stores. Federal ministers Miftah Ismail and Makhdoom Murtaza Mahmood, and relevant senior officers were present in the meeting. The prime minister also approved expansion in the network of Utility Stores in Karachi. He said the less number of Utility Stores in Karachi was not acceptable in any way, and directed a comprehensive plan for raising the number of utility stores should be presented within two weeks. He said as the backward segment required maximum relief, the government was ready to spend every cost for that purpose. Providing relief to the poor on essential items was the foremost priority of the government, he added.
The prime minister said a comprehensive, consolidated, transparent and digital subsidy system should be formulated, under which relief be provided especially to the backward segment on priority basis. He also called for the formulation of a strategy to reform the subsidy system in cooperation with the ministers for Finance, Industries & Production and Poverty Reduction.
The meeting was briefed in detail about the provision of subsidy through the Utility Stores, targeted subsidy for the backward segment, expansion in the number of Utility Stores across the country and progress on the programme of providing cheaper wheat flour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the prime minister’s vision. It was told that besides 1,380 franchises, the Utility Stores Corporation was directly running 3,822 stores across the country. Over 300 new stores would be opened in Balochistan, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Punjab by July 30.
The meeting was also informed that so far 113 million people had benefitted from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s relief package and got subsidies of Rs 60 per kg on wheat flour, Rs 21 on sugar, Rs 250 on ghee, and Rs 15 to Rs 20 on pulses and rice. The digital subsidy system was linked with the data of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Ministry of Poverty Reduction.
It was further told that the provision of cheaper wheat flour was being ensured in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through 942 Utility Stores. Whereas on the special instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 1,000 new sale points and 200 mobile stores were being added. Regarding Balochistan, the meeting was told that after the visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the month of Ramazan and under his special direction, the provision of essential items at cheaper rates in the province was being ensured. For that purpose, besides Utility Stores, mobile stores had also been established in the province to ensure the provision of subsidy in far flung areas.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday invited Saudi businessmen to make investments in various economic sectors of Pakistan as the government would facilitate investors in every way possible, and remove hurdles and red-tapism. Speaking to a delegation of Saudi businessmen and investors at a reception here, he assured that the investments of Saudi businessmen would be fully secure, and they could earn and repatriate their profits. The PM said it was a great pleasure to welcome the Saudi businessmen to Pakistan – their second home. “This is like reunion of a family. We are here this evening to share our views.”
He thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and expressed gratitude to him for his warm welcome to the Pakistani delegation led by him, on its arrival in Saudi Arabia. “We have fond memories of our visit to Saudi Arabia and have gratitude for Saudi Crown Prince for his warm welcome to me and my delegation.” He said during the visit, his discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince were extremely productive and gratifying. The Saudi Crown Prince reassured that Saudi Arabia would always support Pakistan in every walk of life including trade, investment and on the diplomatic front, he recalled. The prime minister said since its inception Pakistan always received unconditional diplomatic and material support of all kinds from Saudi Arabia. “We don’t have enough words to express feelings of gratitude and sincere thanks for unqualified support by Saudi Arabia for the last 70 years.” He said Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman gave billions of dollars in financial support to Pakistan, including Saudi deposits placed in the State Bank of Pakistan and deferred oil payment facility.
