Untargetted subsidy: Ramazan package not pro-poor, says Wattoo

LAHORE:

The Ramazan package of the provincial government did not offer relief to the poor because it had been extended to all citizens irrespective of need, said Pakistan Peoples Party Punjab president Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo on Thursday.

In a statement, the PPP president said that any subsidy must be targeted at the poor “who have been severely affected by the extraordinary hike in the price of edible items during the first year of this government.” He said that those eligible for Benazir Income Support Programme should qualify for the Ramazan package.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2014.