The government enhanced the petrol subsidy for the low-income population to Rs100, while more measures would also be announced to protect the poor from impact of the soaring inflation, according to a senior government official on Monday.
Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered for the implementation of the petrol relief scheme within six weeks, adding that a mechanism to ensure transparency in the relief package would be finalised.
Dr Malik addressed a press conference a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while chairing a high-level meeting in Lahore, announced the provision of petrol subsidy to the owners of the small vehicles.
The prime minister announced that the low-income individuals would receive a petrol subsidy of up to Rs50 per litre. He directed that the relief would be given to low-income consumers, who have motorcycles, rickshaws, 800 cc cars and other small vehicles.
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“On the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, subsidy on petrol prices, under the petrol relief scheme, has been enhanced to Rs100 from [previously announced] Rs50 for the poor on every litre of petrol,” Malik told reproters.
“The prime minister has ordered for implementing the petrol relief scheme within six weeks,” the minister of state said, adding that no additional subsidy would be given from the government exchequer.
Explaining the salient features of the scheme, Malik said that a low-income person needed around 21 litters of petrol per month. With that in view, subsidy would be given to the vehicle owner on 21 litres of petrol in a month.
“For cheap petrol, a message will be sent. Motorcycles will not be given more than 2 or 3 litres of petrol in one go,” he said. “The poor will be given a relief of Rs100 on every litre of petrol,” he added.
According to the minister, those who could afford the petrol or those from the upper class would be charged higher prices of petrol and from that amount, subsidy would be provided to the poor.
He highlighted several other pro-poor measures announced by the government. “We have separated the gas tariff for the poor and for the rich. Today the poor pays one-fourth of the bill paid by the rich.
The minister also mentioned the scheme of free flour for the poor people in Punjab during the holy month of Ramazan. “After a few weeks, the government will also bring a third programme for the poor, he added.
“As long as we [the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)] are in the government, our policies will continue, which are to tax the rich and make life easier for the poor,” Dr Malik told the presser.
He criticised former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who he alleged, considered himself above the law and the Constitution, resisted the court orders with the help of a violent mob and challenged the writ of the state.
The minister lamented that there existed two countries within the country, one for the rich and the other for the poor and “we stand with the country of the poor”. “There are 220 million people in this country out of which 210 million people are poor,” he said.
However, he added: “We also respect the rich, but they will have to give more money. The affluent households which could afford have the right to use luxury items, those who are rich, use luxury goods, use expensive cars, they will pay the real price.”
Responding to a question, the minister of state said that the gas circular debt of Rs1,700 billion had been eliminated. He also said that the government was working on the availability of the liquefied natural gas (LNG).
When asked about the import of oil from Russia, Malik said that he did not say that the oil import would begin in the month of March. “I had said that we will place the order in April,” he clarified. We are still negotiating for buying oil from Russia.”
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Asked further about the purchase of Iranian oil, the minister of state replied that he had no objection to Iran oil or any other oil at lower price that came without threat of sanctions. He stressed that the government would take its own decisions.
Dr Malik said that it was for the first time that the government publicised the record of Toshakhana gifts, adding that the cabinet had also decided that full market value of the gifts would be paid if anyone wanted to take gifts from Toshakhana.
Responding to yet another question, he said the alleged audio leak of a former chief justice of Pakistan should be investigated and if found real, cases should be registered against the accused.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
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