ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday expressed satisfaction over the success of staff-level agreement with the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and said the government would not allow anybody to put the burden of corruption and administrative mismanagement in institutions on the common man.

While reviewing government subsidies in various sectors at a meeting, Prime Minister Khan directed the energy division to fully concentrate on busting big power thieves and cartels so that the masses could be protected from exploitation and flaws in the system.

He was earlier informed that as a whole Rs251 billion subsidy was being provided in the energy sector.

The meeting, which was attended by Minister for Energy Omar Ayub, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Finance Adviser Abdul Hafiz Shaikh, Commerce Adviser Abdur Razzak Dawood, Special Assistant to the PM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, was briefed about the provision of subsidies by the government in the energy, food and fertilizer sectors, besides social protection programme and allocations for the promotion of exports and higher education.

PM expresses satisfaction over deal with IMF; reviews subsidies in various sectors; claims govt striving to pass on impact of improvement in economic indicators

The meeting was told that the basic purpose of providing subsidies by the government was to provide relief to the low-income groups and downtrodden segments of society, promotion of industries and to access to the higher education.

The prime minister said it should be ensured that the subsidies should be utilised for their respective purpose and was fruitful for the people for which there was a need to review effects of the subsidies. Mr Khan said IMF’s trust in government’s economic policies and its direction, with protection to the people in the current fiscal year, was the success of his government.

The meeting was informed that the energy sector was given Rs251 billion subsidy. Of this amount, Rs162 billion was allocated for the domestic consumers who used up to 300 electricity units a month. Similarly, Rs8.5 billion was earmarked to provide subsidy for tube-wells (agriculture) in Balochistan, while Rs18 billion was being provided to the people of merged tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs3 billion to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Rs25 billion to the K-Electric.

Besides, the meeting was told that the industrial sector was being provided power and gas supply at ‘reasonable’ rates for which Rs10 billion and Rs24 billion, respectively, had been allocated.

About the subsidies being provided to control food prices, the meeting was informed that Rs21 billion subsidy had been announced under the head of the Prime Minister’s Relief Package; Rs2.5bn for the Utility Stores under the Ramazan package; Rs6bn for Gilgit-Baltistan wheat package and Rs8bn for wheat procurement arrears in Gilgit-Baltistan; in addition to billions of rupees allocated to keep prices of wheat flour across the country under control.

The PM was also briefed about the Rs192bn Ehsaas social protection programme along with details of the allocations being provided for Kafalat, Waseela Taleem, undergraduate scholarships, poverty alleviation, shifting of assets and interest-free loans.

Economic indicators improving

Mr Khan expressed satisfaction over an improvement in economic indicators and said the government was fully striving to pass on the impact of economic improvement to the masses.

While reviewing the country’s overall economic situation at another meeting, the PM said since the people were facing hardships due to the previous governments mismanagement, the present government was making every possible effort to provide relief to masses especially the low income groups, salaried class and weaker segments of the society.

Mr Khan was informed that the overall economic indicators of the country were improving, with the weekly Sensitive Price Index (SPI) showing a decline and that was expected to drop further.

He directed the relevant ministries to keep the masses informed about economic stability and improvement in economic indicators in order to boost the confidence of business community.

Law minister calls on PM

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Dr Farogh Naseem on Friday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM Office.

They discussed important law matters during the meeting, according to a press release issued by the PMO.

Lawmakers from KP districts meet premier

Meanwhile, three members of the National Assembly from two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed matters pertaining to their constituencies.

Sahibzada Sibghatullah from Upper Dir district and Mehboob Shah and Mohammad Bashir Khan from Lower Dir district called on the premier, while Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nadeem Afzal Chan was also present.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2020