ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a government meeting Sunday to review the implementation of petroleum subsidies amid rising oil costs caused by the ongoing Middle East war.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting covered the status of fuel subsidies, national fuel reserves, and consumption levels.
Under the program, passenger buses will receive a monthly subsidy of Rs 100,000 ($359), while minibuses and wagons will receive Rs 40,000 ($143). Trucks will get Rs 70,000 ($251) per month, large freight vehicles Rs 80,000 ($287), and delivery vans Rs 35,000 ($125.7), to prevent an increase in food prices.
The prime minister directed the immediate release of subsidy funds, which began Saturday, a holiday, instead of the scheduled Monday start. The PMO reported that funds will be distributed through digital wallets to “ensure transparency.”
All provincial governments submitted details of trucks, buses, and freight vehicles to the federal government for subsidy distribution. PM Sharif stated that the Balochistan provincial government has already deposited its share of the national relief package. He encouraged the other provinces to complete their contributions at the earliest opportunity.
A public relief package totaling Rs129 billion ($463.4 million ) was disbursed over the last three weeks. Meanwhile, the petrol levy was reduced by Rs80 per liter, and Pakistan Railways is providing a Rs6 billion ($21.6 million) subsidy to keep passenger and freight train fares unchanged. The scheduled 25% quarterly increase in toll tax was also withdrawn.
The meeting also received a report from the Intelligence Bureau on government austerity measures and confirmed that fuel reserves are sufficient to meet the country’s needs.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Dr. Mosaddiq Malik, Attaullah Tarar, and other senior officials.
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