Govt cannot leave people alone during hard times: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said the government could not leave the masses alone in the present situation, arising out of the Iran war, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Chairing a meeting held to discuss the subsidy provided on petroleum products in the wake of the war, the prime minister said the government had given a relief package of Rs129 billion to the people during the last three weeks.

“The government immediately slashed the petroleum levy by Rs80 per litre to provide relief to the people,” he said, adding, “Pakistan Railways has announced a subsidy of Rs6 billion so that train fares remain unchanged.”

Similarly, he added, the government had also withdrawn its decision to increase toll tax by 25 per cent every three months. “We are trying to provide as much relief to the people in these tough times as possible.”

PM Shehbaz went on to say that likewise, subsidies of Rs100,000 and Rs40,000 were being provided to passenger buses and vans, respectively every month while, in order to prevent surge in the prices of food items, subsidies of Rs70,000, Rs80,000 and Rs35,000 were being provided to trucks, long vehicles and delivery vans, respectively every month.

The meeting was also briefed on stocks of fuel in the country as well as their consumption. The prime minister informed that in order to ensure transparency, these amounts were being transferred through digital vaults. 

He also informed that all provincial governments had provided to the Center details of trucks, buses and long vehicles required to hand amounts to the people.