PM Shehbaz says govt had no option but to increase the prices of petroleum products
GWADAR, June 03 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that the government had no option but to increase the prices of petroleum products and the government has given Rs 2,000 subsidy to the poor people and will provide more relief to the poor people.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Gwadar East Bay Expressway on Friday, having increased oil prices again with a heavy heart, the government believed that anymore burden on the poor masses would be unjust and it was a time for the elite class to sacrifice.
“I have called a meeting tomorrow… The billionaire elite should come forward and sacrifice for the poor masses and provide their resources through austerity… This will start from me, ministers, advisors, federal and provincial secretaries and government officers,” the prime minister said. He said that the privileged classes, the government, the prime minister and his ministers, chief ministers, governors and officers would all have to accept these “lawful but tough” steps.
“If we work together day and night, adopt simplicity, give sacrifices, then a time will surely come where we overcome these challenges and take this country towards development and prosperity. That is my belief.”
The prime minister said that he has reviewed ongoing development works in Gwadar. Ahsan Iqbal is supervising all the projects and better security is being provided to Chinese brothers. He said China has also provided solar panels to 3200 families, hospitals in Gwadar with Chinese help but the pace of work here is not satisfactory yet as the Gwadar Airport has not been completed yet.
Shehbaz Sharif said the foundation stone of the airport was laid in 2017-18, adding that the Gwadar Airport is being built with 100% Chinese grant, while clean drinking water couldn’t not be provided to the people. He said that despite being funded by China 100 percent, the slow progress on the airport project was regrettable. Shehbaz also regretted that the people of Gwadar could not be provided sufficient drinkable water yet. “Desalination plants should have been built long ago and drinkable water should have been in every household by now.”
He informed that many heavy ships cannot come to Gwadar port as it needed drilling in some locations. “The negligence from the former government halted the process. I have tasked Ahsan Iqbal to take this matter on war footing,” he added.
PM Shehbaz also announced including 0.5 million families from Balochistan in Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and added that all poor families from Gwadar will be covered under it.
He said that the local fishermen in the city needed new boat engines, announcing that the government would give them 2,000 engines free of cost via balloting.
He further said that funds for Gwadar University will be provided in the upcoming budget.
He said the elite would have to play their part in that noble cause. “This is their duty. I will ensure that they shower their resources for the poor and bear strict measures,” he remarked.
A component of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the 6-lane Eastbay Expressway would connect the Gwadar Port with the Makran Coastal Highway, also providing a link to Karachi.
The prime minister told the gathering that the government tried to avert the burden of oil price hike but it was done with a heavy heart as 90% of country’s needs were met through imported oil.
He said perceiving the success of vote of no confidence against it, the previous government reduced the oil prices to trap the incumbent government. Lashing out at the former government, the prime minister said that it only provided relief to the people after realising that the vote of no-confidence was going to succeed. “They never provided subsidies on wheat and sugar, prices of which affect poor people the most,” he added.
He questioned as how the government could provide subsidy on imported oil through loans.
The prime minister said that the government had announced a relief package of Rs2,000 each family under Benazir Income Support Program(BISP) to mitigate the impact of the oil price hike.
inaugurated it.”
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said progress and prosperity of fishermen of Gwadar is the top most priority of present government.
Addressing the fishermen in Gwadar, he said steps would be taken on emergency basis to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Gwadar and it’s adjoining areas. He said engines for the boats would be provided free of cost to fishermen through balloting in the first phase of the scheme.
The Prime Minister assuring the fishermen of resolving their problems said strict action will be taken against illegal trawling in Gwadar and other coastal areas of Balochistan.