ISLAMABAD (HRNW) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed that despite the global economic crisis and the volatile situation in the Gulf, the government will take every possible step to protect the poor and middle-class segments of society. He emphasized that money saved through historic cuts in government expenditures will be spent directly on public relief.
High-Level Meeting and Key Briefings
Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, a crucial meeting was held to review the impact of the Gulf crisis on petroleum products, current national reserves, and public relief measures.
-
Fuel Reserves: The meeting was informed that the country possesses sufficient stocks of fuel and medicines, and there is no immediate threat of a supply chain disruption.
-
Audit Report: The Intelligence Bureau (IB) presented a special audit report regarding the progress of the Prime Minister’s austerity drive and savings initiatives.
Government Sacrifice and Major Austerity Decisions
Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the government has initiated “sacrifice from within” to facilitate public relief:
-
Government Vehicles: An immediate order has been issued to ground 60% of government vehicles.
-
Budget Cuts: Significant reductions have been made in government expenditures and the development budget.
-
Fuel Prices: The Prime Minister revealed that he has repeatedly rejected proposals to increase oil prices to shield the common man from further financial burden.
Relief for Motorcycle and Rickshaw Drivers
The meeting focused heavily on Targeted Subsidies for the lower-income groups:
-
Registration Drive: Provincial governments have been directed to accelerate the registration of motorcycle and rickshaw owners to ensure that relief reaches them directly through a digital system.
-
Fuel Levies: It was briefed that while the levy on High Octane has been increased, the price of Jet Fuel remains unchanged.
Leadership Attendance
The meeting was attended by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Dr. Musadik Malik, Mustafa Kamal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and other top officials. The Prime Minister reiterated that while Pakistan continues its diplomatic efforts for regional peace, economic stability at home remains the top priority.
Support Independent Journalism
Human Rights News Agency (HRNW) is the world’s No. 1 Human Rights news portal, dedicated to reporting on government policies and the protection of economic rights for the global community.
