ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to immediately issue subsidy payments to shield consumers from the recent hike in fuel prices, his office said on Sunday, as Islamabad grapples with the economic fallout of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Sharif issued the directives while chairing a meeting of federal ministers and senior officials to review progress on issuing government subsidies on petroleum products.
The government was prompted to begin releasing subsidy payments on Saturday after Pakistan raised fuel prices to historic highs on Thursday, with petrol reaching Rs458.41 [$1.65] per liter and diesel Rs520.35 [$1.87] per liter, before Sharif announced a Rs80 cut in the petrol levy to ease the burden on consumers.
“The prime minister directed that subsidy payments be released immediately, which has already commenced since yesterday,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
The government announced a range of relief measures this week, including free public transport in Islamabad, fare freezes on Pakistan Railways and targeted subsidies for transporters, farmers and motorbike users across provinces.
