Islamabad: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government would introduce a Ramadan Relief Package this year without the involvement of Utility Stores, aiming to prevent corruption and the distribution of low-quality goods to the public.
“As the month of Ramadan approaches, I have instructed the Ministry of National Food Security to bring a Ramadan package without the Utility Stores. I had told several months ago that it cannot continue with the Utility Stores,” the Prime Minister said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Last month, the current government formed a seven-member cabinet committee to oversee the immediate shutdown of USC operations nationwide. The committee was also tasked with developing a strategy to distribute the Ramadan package in coordination with the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that the government had received numerous complaints last year regarding the implementation of the Ramadan Package via USC.
Referring to the polio vaccination drive, the Prime Minister recalled the martyrdom of police officer Abdul Khaliq, who was deployed for the security of the polio team in Jamrud, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and paid tribute to his sacrifice in the country’s effort to become polio-free.
He also praised the tireless efforts of the Prime Minister’s Health Coordinator Dr. Mukhtar, Polio Coordinator Dr. Ayesha Farooq, the health secretary, and polio vaccinators for their dedication in fighting the crippling disease.
Updating the cabinet members on his visit to Quetta, the Prime Minister shared that he visited a hospital to meet security personnel injured in an anti-terrorism operation in Kalat, in which 18 security personnel were martyred and 23 terrorists were eliminated.
“I met the injured. Their morale was high, and they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. These martyrs and Ghazis are determined to rid the country of terrorism and work tirelessly for this cause,” he remarked.
He added that the soldiers of the army, police, FC, and Rangers sacrificing their lives were bearing the consequences of the shortsighted policies of a past government that released thousands of terrorists.
Inflation and Economic Growth The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the monthly inflation falling to a nine-year low of 2.4% from 28.73%.
He congratulated the entire nation, the cabinet members, especially the finance minister, his team, the FBR, and others, for their efforts in bringing inflation down to its lowest level.
“Now, we are fully focused on economic growth… this is our main challenge. All our energies will be directed towards economic growth. Just like other targets we have achieved, we will achieve this too,” he reaffirmed.
He informed the cabinet members that on Monday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a delegation to Pakistan, and both sides signed an agreement under which Saudi Arabia would supply oil worth $1.2 billion annually on deferred payment.
Additionally, the Saudi Development Fund will provide a loan for a $40 million water supply project in Mansehra.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the entire nation would observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on Wednesday to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the approval of agricultural income tax by all four provinces in line with IMF conditions and thanked the chief ministers, President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Nawaz Sharif for their support in this regard.
