Friday, 29 March 2024, 01:55:32 pm

PM Shehbaz announces Rs28b relief package for low-income people
May 28, 2022

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a new relief package worth twenty-eight billion rupees per month to lessen the impact of increase in the prices of petroleum products on the low-income segment of the society.

In a televised address to the nation, he said under the relief package, fourteen million deserving families will be immediately provided two thousand rupees each, which will benefit 85 million people or one third of the total population.

The Prime Minister said this financial assistance is in addition to the support being already provided under Benazir Income Support Program. He said this financial assistance will be included in the next financial budget.

Shehbaz Sharif said he has also directed Utility Stores Corporation to ensure provision of 10-kilogram flour bag at 400 rupees across the country.

The Prime Minister said the last government announced subsidy on petroleum prices for its political benefits without keeping in view the precarious situation of the national exchequer, putting the nation into severe economic crisis.

Shehbaz Sharif said the last government added a huge burden of over 20,000 billion rupees loan, which forms eighty percent of the total loan acquired over the past 71 years. Budget deficit for the current fiscal year is also estimated to be 5600 billion rupees, which is the country’s highest deficit.

Drawing a comparison with the last PTI government, Shehbaz Sharif said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had added 10,400 megawatts of electricity, spread a net of roads across the country provided the best public transport and kept inflation at the ever-lowest level.

He said people have to suffer from prolonged power outages because power plants of 7500 megawatt were not functional and the last government had committed criminal negligence by not importing fuel. Power plants were also not properly maintained.

The Prime Minister announced to initiate a consultative process with all the political parties to ensure continuity of economic policies. He regretted that his suggestion of a charter of economy was rejected by the previous regime.

The Prime Minister said the last government destroyed economy, making people suffer due to high inflation and little employment opportunities. However, he expressed the commitment to work hard with the sole objective to take the country to progress and prosperity.

Referring to the foreign policy, Shehbaz Sharif said the last four years also proved destructive for foreign policy with deterioration of relations with friendly countries, who always stood by Pakistan in difficult time. However, he said, the process of restoration of bilateral ties has begun.

He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that for durable peace in South Asia, it is India’s responsibility to undo its unilateral and illegal steps of August 5, 2019 about Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir so that meaningful talks could be initiated for resolution of Kashmir and other outstanding issues.

Referring to terrorism, the Prime Minister said the National Action Plan will be revived with consultation of provinces.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan dropped on World Press Freedom Index because of the last government’s measures against the media and freedom of expression. However, he said, the present government abolished Pakistan Media Development Authority, which was established to deprive people of press freedom.

Emphasizing on unity, he said no nation can progress without overcoming internal polarization. He regretted that an individual has been spreading hatred in the society for achieving his nefarious political objectives. For this purpose, he said, the person created a concocted story of diplomatic letter, damaging national interests and Pakistan’s diplomatic relations. He said the National Security Committee and Pakistan’s Ambassador in the United States have declared that no conspiracy was hatched for regime change.

The Prime Minister categorically stated that Pakistan will move on as per the constitution, not at the whims of any individual. He said protection of masses’ lives and properties is top priority of a government, and we will not make any compromise on it.

Shehbaz Sharif invited all the political forces to join hands to build Pakistan on the pattern where difference of opinion is welcomed; rights of women and minorities are protected, and laborer and farmer become prosper.