Shehbaz seeks subsidy plan for Ramazan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday asked the provinces and administrative units to submit a comprehensive strategy to the federal government on the provision of food items at subsidised rates during Ramazan.

Chairing a meeting on the availability of essential commodities and food items, he stressed the need for using technology to control the rates in the Ramazan bazars. He also emphasised on putting in place effective measures for security.

The prime minister directed for increasing the number of Ramazan bazars in big cities to accommodate maximum number of people. He said that ensuring the supply of essential items to citizens was the basic responsibility of the federal and provincial governments.

He said that special committees would be set up to improve the supply chain of commodities and maintain their prices. The meeting was informed that necessary steps were being taken to ensure the supply of commodities, including wheat, pulses and edible oil, and other items.

Meanwhile, the prime minister visited the Turkish Embassy to offer his condolences on the loss of life and property in the recent earthquake in Turkiye.

The prime minister met Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Paçaci and assured him that the government and the people of Pakistan stood in strong solidarity with the people of Turkiye.

He reiterated that Pakistan would continue its rescue and relief efforts for Turkish brothers and sisters until the last affected person was rehabilitated. Thanking the prime minister, the ambassador said that they were touched by the outpouring of sympathy and support from the entire Pakistani nation.

Also, the prime minister said the politics of PTI Chairman Imran Khan was based on lies and his ‘somersaults’ had disappointed the nation.

“Imran Niazi’s antics and somersaults continue to disappoint the nation,” he said in a tweet, in reference to the U-turns of the PTI leader on his own previous stances.

Former prime minister Imran Khan, in an interview and a televised address on Sunday, stated that the United States was not behind the conspiracy of ousting him from the government. The statement is in stark contrast to his earlier stance of blaming the US for the “regime change” in Pakistan.

The prime minister said: “The only constant is his desperation to get back into power even if it involves plunging the country into a protracted period of instability.” He added the politics of Imran Niazi was based on lies, which were getting exposed by the day.