ISLAMABAD: Following the opposition’s barrage of criticism over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to reduce electricity and petrol prices apparently without having foreseen the financial repercussions, the premier on Wednesday claimed a record recovery by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) provided him a cushion to announce the relief package for the inflation-hit masses.

In a televised address to the nation on Monday, PM Khan had announced a reduction of Rs10 per litre in petrol/diesel and Rs5 in electricity prices. He further claimed the rates would remain stable until the next federal budget.

This was the second time on Wednesday the prime minister explained why he announced the relief package — first in a tweet in the morning and later while addressing a gathering at Faisal Mosque to launch interest-free loans under Kamyab Pakistan Programme.

Mr Khan once again vowed to make Pakistan a “real welfare state” on the lines of the state of Madina and said maximum benefit of the “high tax collection” will continue to be passed on to the people in the future also.

Imran launches interest-free loan programme worth Rs407bn for low-income groups, one-stop emergency relief helpline 911

In his tweet, the PM said robust revenue growth of 28.5 per cent by the FBR enabled the government to subsidise petrol and electricity. “Because of this performance of FBR we are able to subsidise petrol, diesel, and electricity and give relief to our people,” he wrote. “FBR has successfully knocked down Feb revenue target of Rs.441 billion, posting robust growth of 28.5 percent, and up to the month’s growth of over 30 percent.”

It was officially informed that the FBR had collected net revenue of Rs3,799 billion during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (2021-22), exceeding the target set for the period by Rs268bn. This represents a growth of about 30.3pc over the collection of Rs2,916bn during July-February 2020-21.

On the other hand, the gross collection increased from Rs3,074bn during July-February (2020-21) to Rs3,996bn in the current fiscal year, showing an increase of 30pc. Likewise, the amount of refund disbursed was Rs197bn during July-January (2021-22) as compared to Rs157bn paid last year, showing an increase of 25.4pc.

Interest-free loans: Later in the ceremony,Prime Minister Khan said the government had launched the mega interest-free loan programme worth Rs407bn to provide significant monetary assistance to the low-income class.

Under the Kamyab Pakistan Programme – a component of the PM’s vision for poverty alleviation, loans will be disbursed among the youth, women, farmers and for the construction of low-income houses during the next two years.

Mr Khan said 4.5 million families would benefit from the scheme that will enable them to start small businesses, construct houses, maintain farms and gain technical education. So far, Rs2.5bn had been disbursed among the low-income groups through various welfare schemes, while banks had also given loans of Rs55bn on the government’s encouragement to facilitate the common man, he explained.

The PM said Pakistan had been envisioned as a socio-welfare nation in line with the state of Madina. He, however, regretted that deviation from this ideology had led to the country facing several challenges in terms of well-being of the people.

“The government’s national health insurance programme will help expand medical facilities to the public and private sectors across the country,” he said, adding the government was proud of providing free medical treatment worth Rs1 million to every household annually.

“All the tax money collected by the government will be spent on public welfare,” he added.

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, in a video message played at the event, said the loan programme was in line with the vision of a socio-welfare state to facilitate the common man. Interest-free loans, besides technical training, would enable the low-income strata to earn a respectable livelihood.

Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib said his organisation had been disbursing interest-free loans to the needy and deserving for 22 years. In collaboration with the government, he said, Akhuwat Foundation would provide interest-free loans worth Rs1bn to 7,000 households and expressed the confidence that it would contribute to poverty alleviation. The government will provide a subsidy of Rs56bn for the purpose.

Emergency helpline: On the occasion, Prime Minister Khan also launched a universal helpline, called ‘Pakistan Emergency Helpline (PEHEL) 911’, to provide a one-stop emergency relief point to the entire country.

The PM was briefed that all 36 helplines in the country – from fire brigade, police, health assistance and disaster recovery to the motorway police -- have been consolidated under the PEHEL-911 umbrella. Now, a complainant will just have to dial 911 where he/she would be connected to the relevant government agency.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2022