Reza Baqir, Hafeez Sheikh not to be replaced: PM Khan

• PM Imran Khan has directed the economic team to select the right person for the position of Chairman FBR.
• The recent flour crisis created in the country has nothing to do with PTI’s leader Jahangir Tareen, says PM.

Prime Minister Imran Khan while denying the news of the change in the ministries has said that the Advisor on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and the Governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Reza Baqir will not be replaced.

“There is no authenticity in such news,” said the PM, during his meeting on Monday during a meeting with government spokespersons chaired by the Prime Minister, said reports.

The Prime Minister said that Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Syed Shabbar Zaidi was seriously ill. According to sources, the Prime Minister has directed the economic team to select the right person for the position of Chairman FBR.

PM Khan while responding to criticism from the opposition, said that the recent flour crisis created in the country has nothing to do with PTI’s leader Jahangir Tareen.

Meanwhile, in order to bring relief to the inflation stricken public, the PM Imran would announce an Rs15-18 billion relief package on Tuesday. At the meeting, the Prime Minister has decided to reduce the prices of food items. The federal government has decided to sell wheat, pulses, sugar and rice at 10 to 25 percent cheaper rates.

Talking about the relief package, PM Khan has decided to immediately release Rs10 billion for utility stores, for purchase of commodities. The Prime Minister has decided to give a subsidy of Rs2bn to the utility store every month from February to June. Some seven thousand utility stores across the country will be getting affordable items.

The federal government has also issued directions to purchase 200,000 tonnes of wheat.