By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Stressing the need for reforms in ‘subsidy system’, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed to ensure that the benefit of subsidies reached only the poor and needy people.
Presiding over a meeting of an economic think-tank, PM Imran ordered to review the entire subsidy system, adding, “The government subsidies are aimed at providing relief and assistance to poor and deserving people.”
The premier directed his finance adviser to set up a special cell to review the subsidies provided by government in various fields and make comprehensive recommendations to enhance their effectiveness.
During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed about the budget and subsidies in electricity, gas, fertilizers, utility stores, exports, housing, Ehsas, National Highway Authority, and other government organizations.
Earlier on May 27, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had said that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had awarded a subsidy of Rs20 billion out of Rs26 billion on sugar in last five years.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Shahzad Akbar had said previously the sugar mafia expanded with the support of corrupt governments, but that time, they were caught red handed in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
Shahzad Akbar had said publishing an inquiry report of the sugar scandal was a big step and it would further facilitate the process of accountability in the country. No government had dared to take such a step earlier.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said that promotion of modern education was priority of the government and directed for formulation of a mechanism on priority basis to ensure provision and easy accessibility of Internet facility to the students and removal of all issues in this regard.
He was presiding over a meeting to review promotion of knowledge economy, establishment of research centre on the Seerat of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and different proposed projects for the higher education.
According to a press release of the PM Offie media wing, the meeting was attended by Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mahmood, Dr Attaur Rehman via video-link besides Professor Shoaib Khan and Rashid Khan.
The meeting reviewed in detail, the establishment of Pak-Austrian Fachhochschule (Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology) in Haripur, Hazara, Seerat-e-Nabi (PBUH) Center, research center for better coordination among industry and universities, easy accessibility of Internet for promotion of education and information technology. The prime minister directed for early completion and functioning of the Seerat-e-Naabi (PBUH) Center so that research activities could be carried out.
Highlighting the significance of knowledge economy, artificial intelligence and establishment of center for better coordination among industry and universities, he said youth of the country possessed immense talent in the sphere of information and technology and underlined the need to providing conducive environment to encourage them.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday chaired a meeting of the Finance and Economy think-tank to consider various economic issues and directed for carrying out a comprehensive study in different sectors to extend maximum possible subsidies to the poor and deserving people. The meeting was attended by Ministers Hammad Azhar, Senator Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, advisors Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Abdul Razak Dawood, Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistant Dr Sania Nishtar, and Nadeem Babar.
Fromer financce minister Shaukat Tareen, Sultan Ali Alana, Dr. Ijaz Nabi and ArifHabib participated in the meeting via video-link, PM office media wing in a press release said. The purpose of the economic think-tank was to consider different important economic issues, submit its recommendations and formulate future strategy in this regard.
Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the main objective of the provision of subsidies by the government, was to extend support and relief to the poor and deserving people. He stressed that complete study of the whole system of subsidies should be carried out to ensure that its effects not only could trickle down to the deserving people in a transparent manner but it should alsocater to the needs of maximum people.
For further improvement in the provision of subsidy in each sector, the prime minister directed the Advisor on Finance to undertake complete review of the subsidies provided by the government and set up a cell in this regard which should submit comprehensive recommendations.
