'Petrol relief package' announced for motorcyclists, small car owners

• Subsidy of Rs50 per litre to be given to poor people.
• PM Shehbaz chairs a review meeting on relief package.
• Relief to be given to owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, 800cc cars.

In a major relief to the inflation-weary people, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday announced a "petrol relief package" ahead of Ramadan for consumers.

The premier said people belonging to the low-income sector would be given a subsidy of Rs50 per litre under the petroleum relief package.

The announcement comes after the premier chaired a review meeting on the relief package in Punjab's provincial capital.

Pakistan is teetering on a precipice, with fiscal, humanitarian and political crises bringing it ever closer to the brink. As foreign reserves plummet, covering only three weeks of imports, the country is facing its worst economic meltdown in decades.

“Petroleum relief will be given to low-income consumers who have motorcycles, rickshaws, 800cc cars and other small cars,” he said, adding that the programme would be initiated soon and a comprehensive strategy would be formed with the cooperation of relevant departments for effective implementation.

Motorcycles, rickshaws and small cars are used by low-income people and the petroleum subsidy would give relief to the poor, he added. “The government is making effort for all possible help to the poor people despite its economic difficulties.”

Moreover, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik briefed the meeting about the strategy for providing petroleum subsidies to the low-income segment of society.

Last week, the federal government raised the price of petrol by Rs5 per litre which irked the consumers as they started making estimates of already high inflation in the upcoming month of Ramadan.

The new prices came into effect on March 16 and will remain in place till March 31.