ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved Ramadan Relief Package worth 7.8 billion rupees on 19 essential items to facilitate the common people during the holy month of Ramadan through the network of Utility Stores across Pakistan.

Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar and Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain briefed media about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet in Islamabad.

Hammad Azhar said earlier this subsidy was available on five items only. He said sale of the Utility Stores Corporation was likely to reach 100 billion rupees this year and it was expected that USC will earn some profit as well.

He said the cabinet had also approved to run two urea small plants of private sectors from the following month to meet requirements of the farmers. He said large scale manufacturing showed a growth of 9.1 percent in January this year.

Speaking on the occasion, Fawad Chaudhry said the cabinet ordered forensic audit of the loss making entities and in the first phase, ten such entities will pass through this process, which will be completed by 30 June this year. He said it is worth mentioning that 51 out of 85 loss-making State Owned Enterprises have become profitable due to prudent polices of the government.  

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said approval was also granted to the new arms license policy about prohibited and non-prohibited bore.

He said the cabinet too approved issuance of smart cards to Afghan refugees, having Proof of Registration (PoR) cards so that their life can be made easy and for swift resolution of their problems.

The Minister for Science and Technology said tax exemption was granted on auto-disable syringes to prevent spread of various diseases.