Islamabad :
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has decided to continue subsidy on five essential commodities wheat, sugar, ghee / edible oil, pulses and rice for the poor and low-income group in the next financial year.
According to media reports, the subsidy was given by the PTI government.
The Prime Minister made the decision while presiding over a meeting on Utility Stores Corporation, which was attended by Federal Ministers Muftah Ismail, Makhdoom Murtaza Mahmood and senior officials.
The Prime Minister also approved the expansion of the network of utility stores in Karachi.
The Prime Minister said that the low number of utility stores in Karachi was by no means acceptable and a comprehensive plan to increase the number of utility stores in the mega city should be presented in two weeks.
He said in a message on social networking site Twitter that the poor in the society need to be provided maximum relief and the government is ready to bear any cost for this purpose, Shahbaz Sharif said. Providing relief on essential commodities is the top priority of the government.
The meeting was informed that apart from 1380 franchises, Utility Stores Corporation is operating 3,822 direct stores across the country.
The meeting decided that more than 300 new utility stores would be opened in Balochistan, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab by July 30.
The meeting was further informed that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s relief package has so far benefited 113 million people and they have been given subsidy of Rs 60 per kg on wheat flour, Rs 21 on sugar, Rs 250 on ghee / oil and pulses. And Rs 15 to 20 discount is being given on rice.
The meeting was further informed that supply of cheap flour was being ensured through 942 utility stores in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In addition, 1000 new cell points and 200 mobile stores are being added on the special instructions of the Prime Minister.
The meeting was informed about Balochistan that after the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the supply of essential commodities at affordable prices was being ensured in the province.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif stressed the need to focus on new policies and resource management to address the plight of refugees around the world.
In a tweet on the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Prime Minister described the refugees as the worst victims of wars and conflicts, and said that their plight from Syria to Palestine required that the new policy focus on resources. Be arranged
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that it was time for Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to work out a roadmap for enhancing bilateral economic and trade relations. Said
The Prime Minister discussed with the Saudi business community, businessmen and industrialists the opportunities available for investment in Pakistan.
