Govt decides to continue targeted subsidy on five essentials items

• PM approves expansion of the network of Utility Stores in Karachi.
• PM says less number of Utility Stores in Karachi are not acceptable.
  
• PM says the government is working on a digital system for subsidies.

In an effort to provide relief to the masses, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday decided to continue a targeted subsidy on five essential items, namely, wheat flour, sugar, ghee/edible oil, pulses and rice, at Utility Stores for the next financial year, Geo News reported.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting regarding Utility Stores in the country, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in chair. Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail, Minister for Industries and Production Murtaza Mahmood, and other senior officials were also in attendance.

The participants of the meeting were briefed in detail about the provision of targeted subsidies to the lesser privileged segments of society.

The participants were also briefed about increasing the network of Utility Stores across the country and progress on providing cheaper wheat flour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the vision of PM Shehbaz Sharif.

During the meeting, the prime minister approved the expansion of the network of Utility Stores and expressed concerns over the shortage of Utility Stores in Karachi.

“Less number of utility stores in Karachi are not acceptable in any way,” said the PM, adding that, “a comprehensive plan for raising the number of Utility Stores should be presented within two weeks.”

Later, in a tweet, PM Shehbaz said that he had directed the authorities to revamp and expand the Utility Stores network across the country, and that the ministries of Finance, Industries and Poverty Alleviation will jointly work on reforming the system.

PM Shehbaz further sai:, “We are working toward a transparent, efficient and digital system where various subsidies will be brought under one umbrella.”