ISLAMABAD: Emphasizing the need for reviewing the entire subsidy system to ensure that it reaches the deserving through a transparent system, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez sheikh to set up a cell to review the subsidy system with the objective to bring about improvement in it.
The prime minister stated this, while chairing a meeting of his think tank established on economy for formulating recommendations.
He stated that benefit from the Ehsaas Programme data, should also be taken to provide subsidy to the poor and needy people on electricity and gas as well as from the Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
The meeting presided over by the prime minister was given a detailed briefing on subsidy provided in the budget on electricity, gas fertiliser, the USC as well under Ehsaas programme, the National Highways Authority as well as other government departments. The prime minister stated that the basic objective for providing subsidy was to support the poor and deserving people.
The prime minister said the need was to review the entire system of subsidy, so that it was provided through a transparent system to the deserving people, and maximum people benefit from it.
The prime minister directed Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to set up a cell to review the subsidies provided to every sector and bring about improvement in this regard and submit recommendations to increase effectiveness of subsidies.
The premier also acknowledged the cash transfer to the people in a transparent manner under the Ehsaas programme during coronavirus.
The meeting was attended by the adviser to prime minister on finance, Minister for Industries and Production, Senator Shibli Faraz, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Adviser on Commerce Razak Dawood, Adviser on Institutional Reforms, Dr Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minster Dr Sania Nishtar, and Nadeem Babar, while former finance minister Shaukat Tarin and others attended the meeting through video links.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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