ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday announced to slash prices on petrol, diesel and kerosene oil by 15 rupees a litre.
PM Imran said this while announcing economic package for poor segment of Pakistan. Oil prices would be further reduced if the prices remained the same in the global markets, the federal government announced.
The premier said 200 billion rupees would be given for welfare of labour. For export industry, he announced that tax refunds of 100 billion rupees would be disbursed immediately. While principal and interest payments of exports will be deferred on exports, he said.
The prime minister said that interest payments and concessional loans would be deferred for small and medium enterprises and agriculture industry. He said 150 billion rupees would be provided for poor families for four months, Rs3,000 per month.
He said homeless shelters programme would be expanded. 50 billion rupees additional funds would be provided for utility stores, he said.
PM Khan announced Rs280 billion for wheat procurement. Electricity and gas bills with less than 300 units could be paid three months later in arrears without any additional charges, he maintained. Rs50 billion has been allocated for medical workers and equipments, he added.
He said taxes had either been reduced or eliminated on food items. 100 billion rupees had been allocated for emergency situations, he added.
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While, 25 billion rupees had been allocated for National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) (procurement of kits etc.).
PM Imran said a separate package would be announced in 2-3 days for construction industry.
To a query, he said he challenged that the freedom media enjoyed in Pakistan was not seen in the western countries. He said if a wrong step was taken due to coronavirus panic, it would have disastrous affects.
“Lockdown has been imposed and our economic monitoring team is evaluating the situation,” he said.
To a query, the PM said China had assured us that it would provide full relief to our students.
To another query, he said Iran itself was surrounded by challenges therefore it sent Pakistanis here. Majority of the virus in Pakistan had come from Iran, therefore it had limited effects, he said.
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