Cut in urea price: PM asks Dawood to come up with proposal

Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the advisor on commerce to come up with the proposal with respect to reducing the price of per bag urea by Rs 400 to provide relief to farmers.

The Prime Minister also directed the relevant ministries to submit report on measures taken by them to provide relief to the people while chairing yet another meeting on prices of essential commodities on Thursday. As persistent increase in prices of commodities has been making life of general public very difficult, the meeting reviewed various proposals to provide relief to the low-income group and control dearness.

The Prime Minister also directed the relevant ministries to submit report of measures taken by them to provide relief to people as well as their outcome. The Prime Minister also directed them to finalize the proposal for increase in stipend of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP)

He asked the ministries to identify additional measures to provide relief to people along with devising a strategy with timeline and targets as well as responsibilities of the ministries and divisions.

The Prime Minister reiterated that he is fully aware of the problems being faced by the people owing to economic reforms pursued by the government to bring the country out of difficult economic situation and stated that Rs 190 billion have been earmarked for Ehsaas Program. He said poor families are being provided health insurance of Rs 720,000 under Sehat Insaf Card and Rs 7 billion were provided to Utility Stores Corporation (USC) for providing subsidy on essential commodities. He said that the government would take measures to prevent hoarding and profiteering and various meetings were held with the provincial government in this regard.

Those who attended the meeting included Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtyar, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information & Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan.