Targeted subsidy plan to protect poor from price hikes: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that a programme of targeted subsidy would be started soon for the poor section of the society.

Speaking during a meeting of the core committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said the targeted subsidy programme would be started with the financial resources of the federal and provincial governments and the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governments have expressed interest in becoming part of it.

Negotiations with Sindh and Balochistan governments were in progress for their inclusion in the subsidy programme, he added.

The premier said he was aware of the effects of price hikes and the government was expanding the scope of Sehat Card, Kissan Card and Ehsaas programme. He expressed concern over the rising price of flour in Sindh.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar briefed the prime minister on the Ehsaas targeted subsidy.

Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Aslam Jhagra, National Bank of Pakistan president Arif Usmani, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tareen participated in the meeting through a video link.

The Ehsaas Subsidy Programme would be started in the current year to save the poor from price hikes. The Mobile Point of Sale programme was ready for Ehsaas subsidy in cooperation with the National Bank.

The households under the Ehsaas Programme would get concessions on specific items from the general stores under the subsidy programme.

The prime minister directed that the targeted subsidy programme should be finalised as soon as possible.