This was stated by the Minister of Finance Miftah Ismail. on saturday that government relief package that was announced Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the day before, help protect the poor people from “the storm of inflation” left by previous PTI government and recent trip in fuel prices.
Speech at a press conference in Islamabad, he shared the criteria for using the benefit “Sasta Gasoline, Sasta Diesel” package.
Women whose household income was less than Rs 40,000 per month could send a text message to their CNIC (computerized national personality card) numbers on 786 or call this number to get 2,000 rupees, he said.
“We cannot provide complete relieved as we don’t have the resources, but we will do our best to bandage the wounds [of poor people].”
Relief amount would also be included in forthcoming budget which will be presented in National Assembly next month, Ismail added.
minister said government would also expand the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
He explained that relief package was not limited to motorcycle owners, but included anyone whose monthly household income was below 40,000 rupees. People who we already BISP beneficiaries are not need send your details on 786, since they will automatically receive the amount added.
Sharing further details, Ismail said that under the relief package, 14 million households will receive amount. “2000 rubles will be allocated in June and will cost in government 28 billion rupees. In addition to the 3.3 million BISP beneficiaries, this [package] covers 6.7 million households with poverty scores below 37.
“This money will be given to the poorest families, he said. – We have data and phones of BISP recipients, we will start giving them money from June 1.”
Nonetheless money will only be given women of household, he said.
He added what money given through relief package was five percent of income of household with an income of less than Rs 40,000 per month and 8% of income of a household earning Rs 31,333 or less per month.
Previous PTI government gave subsidies to the rich, while the incumbent government targeted at the poor, Ismail said.
He said that according to the PTI government deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF), all subsidies were to be removed, the tax levy increased to Rs 30 and a sales tax was introduced, which would increase price of diesel fuel at 300 rupees per liter, gasoline at 276 rupees per liter.
“We do not follow this formula,” he insisted.
Answering a question, Ismail said that he did not know Will fuel prices go up? again from 1 June. “I don’t think it would be wise to raise prices again in a few days since we already increased them on 26th but I don’t sure.”
He also said he didn’t get a promotion resume power tariffs.
negotiations with the IMF
Answering another question, minister said there was no discussion on privatization in recent negotiations with IMF.
“We are waiting for an agreement at the staff level with IMF in June. The agreement is real thing, after which money can be entered at any time.
“The IMF will give 3 billion dollars. We asked them to extend the program for year and increase it by $2 billion. I expect them to agree.” with The IMF was completed, it would pave the way way for receiving loans from other multilateral organizations, it added.
The country would default because of reduction of oil prices to the previous government, he said, sharing that subsidies cost three times as much as amount required for Run of all civil government.
Ismail said that Saudi Arabia is “ready help us more”but he would share details in July.
“We have lost political capital [because of the price hike] but prime minister as well as [Defence Minister] Khawaja Asif said bluntly that if we have to choose between political capital and the state, we will choose to save the state.”
Ismail had announced on Thursday that federal government decided to raise prices of oil products at 30 rubles per liter.
After the hike price of petrol Rs 179.86, diesel Rs 174.15, kerosene Rs 155.56 and light diesel 148.31 rupees per liter.
price the hike took place the day after government and the IMF failed come to an agreement on bailing out the economy mainly because of the former indecision on fuel and electricity subsidies and, as a result, next years budget uncertainty.
A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz, in his first address since the office said government it was hard decisions in view of national interest, and blamed the previous government of puts the economic and diplomatic status of Pakistan on line, just to advance their personal, political interests.
saying it global oil prices were skyrocketing and that the fuel crisis affected everyone from oil producers to countries to developed nation of West, he claimed that the previous government It was announced fuel and power subsidy for for the sake of of own survival, burden of which the national could not take the treasury.
“We took in decision because it was inevitable avoid by default,” he said, adding that it was important move in application for the rise of the country out of the economic crisis is currently faced.
