ISLAMABD: The government has appointed former secretary finance, Dr Waqar Masood Khan, as head of the newly-created "Subsidies Cell" to make targeted, the allocated subsides in the budget.

A circular issued by the Finance Division on Monday stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed Dr Waqar Masood as head of the of the "Subsidies Cell" in the Ministry of Finance, and he would work on an honorary basis. The concerned officers from the Ministry of Finance and from all other ministries/ divisions dealing with the subject of subsidies shall provide all necessary assistance to the "Subsidies Cell".

The composition and Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the "Subsidies Cell" shall be notified in due course of time.

While chairing a meeting of the think tank established on economy last week, the prime minister directed his Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to set up a cell to review the subsidies provided to every sector and submit recommendations for effectiveness of subsidies.

The prime minister wanted review of the entire subsidy system to ensure that it reaches the deserving through a transparent system and wanted his economic team to take benefit from the Ehsaas Programme data to provide subsidy to the poor and needy people on electricity and gas as well as from the Utility Stores Corporation (USC).

The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on subsidy provided in the budget on electricity, gas fertilizer, the USC as well under Ehsaas programme, the National Highways Authority (NHA) 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.

Sources in the Finance Ministry said there were leakages in the subsidies and it must be plugged to ensure that allocated subsides reached the people in need.