Tuesday, 5 October, 2021 I 28 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 97 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition
POOR suffeRing due tO Rising inflatiOn, PRice hike, acknOWledges khan stAff RepoRt
P
ISLAMABAD
RIME Minister Imran Khan on Monday acknowledged the fact that the poor people are suffering and are “pained” by the soaring inflation and the lack of opportunities across the country, but simultaneously defended his government by stating that the government is “making full efforts so that the lower class is not affected by the rising prices of commodities”. While addressing the launch ceremony of the Kamyab Pakistan Programme (KPP) in Islamabad, he stated that “all the systems in Pakistan have been made for the elite.” PM Imran Khan opines that it is not the incumbent government who is responsible for the inflation and economic disparity but it is because of the “huge mistake” committed by the country’s founding members not to make Pakistan a welfare state. “We made a huge mistake 74 years ago. We believed that we would make
Pakistan a welfare state after there was prosperity and wealth in the country. The thought — that there needs to be surplus first and then we (government) will invest in the poor — I believe these were fundamentally wrong decisions.”, he stated. The PM compared Pakistan with China and India, and stated that the countries had been “almost at the same level” 35-40 years ago but “today, China has reached the skies while in India, there is an island of rich people and the rest [live in] poverty.” The PM opines that China’s progress is subjected to following the model of Riyasate-Madina. While talking about the soaring inflation rate, the PM stated that “The price of oil has increased 100 per cent internationally. We have only increased 22pc in Pakistan. Aside from 19 oil-producing countries, Pakistan has the cheapest petrol and diesel.” He said 75 percent of palm oil in the country was being imported and therefore the public was facing the impact of “imported inflation”. He stated that the global prices of wheat and sugar
grew 37 and 40 percent compared with 12 and 21 percent in Pakistan, respectively. “The price of wheat has risen by 37pc internationally because of the crunch that has come due to supply lines being affected by Covid. We have only increased prices by 12pc in Pakistan. Sugar prices have risen by 40pc, but we have increased only by 21pc,” he added. The PM revealed that the incumbent government would soon announce another programme through which the poor can get relief. Along with this, he added that the prices would fall once supply issues caused by the pandemic will be resolved. The PM announced a 40 percent targeted subsidy for the poor on purchase of essential food items, which would provide relief to the lower-income people. While sharing details about the Kamyab Pakistan Programme, the PM revealed that around Rs1.4 trillion soft loans will be provided to 3.7 million families across the country. The programme will have five com-
ponents. Farmers will get interest-free loans under the Kamyab Kissan programme, financing of up to Rs500,000 will be made for setting up a business under the Kamyab Karobar programme, financing on easy installments will be extended for construction of
houses under the Sasta Ghar scheme, besides linking successful skilled-based scholarship scheme and Sehat Insaf Card with the KPP, said a statement by the Prime Minister Office.
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Interior Ministry kept at bay in talks with TTP: Sheikh Rashid Agencies Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed revealed on Monday that Interior Ministry has been kept at bay in talks with TTP. Sheikh Rashid expressed this days after PM Imran Khan revealed in an interview with Turkish broadcaster that talks with some factions of TTP were in process. During a presser, while responding to a question, Ahmed said, “The Ministry of Interior has no role in this [talks with the TTP], and if the Taliban are engaged in any dialogue then it is not in my knowledge.” “Nothing is final as to how this will end up”, he added. When asked about whether he wanted such talks to be held with the TTP, he
cOROnaviRus in
Pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
1,251,348
LAST UPDATED AT 8:15 AM ON OCTOBER 4, 2021
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
27
1,490
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
1,177,249 27,893 SINDH:
PUNJAB:
460,111
433,286
KPK:
BALOCHISTAN:
174,671 AJK/GB:
32,981 ISLAMABAD:
34,234 / 10,332
105,733
replied that decisions on such matters were taking “at the highest level” by the PM. “The Ministry of Interior does not make these decisions,” he added. Sheikh Rashid further revealed that PM Imran Khan had clarified that talks would be held with only those groups who would abide by the law and Constitution of Pakistan. “Those who are terrorists and have caused harm to the country will not be engaged in dialogue.”, he added. Sheikh Rashid reiterated that his ministry was not involved in the said matter. It is pertinent to note that the criticism by the opposition over the government deciding to hold talks with the TTP is growing at a rapid pace. Earlier, President Arif Alvi hinted at the possibility of giving amnesty to TTP members who
Power tariff goes up by Rs1.65 per unit isLAMABAD NewS DeSk
The government on Monday increased the electricity tariff, which it had put on hold in April, by Rs1.65 per unit to ensure continuous foreign inflows from lending agencies, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with which it started talks for the revival of the stalled $6 billion Extend Fund Facility (EFF). According to the notification, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has increased the price of electricity for a year by Rs1.65, after which the average price of electricity has increased from Rs16.44 to Rs18.09 per unit. The price has been increased on account of a fuel price adjustment for the first, second and third quarters of the current and last fiscal years. The decision will cause an additional burden of approximately Rs90 billion on Pakistani consumers. The hike in the tariff will not apply to lifeline power consumers who use more than 300 units a month, which constitutes 80 percent of total consumers. According to Nepra, the price hike has been imple-
had not remained involved in “criminal activities” and who would lay down their weapons and agree to adhere to the Constitution. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on the matter stated that the government would be “open to giving” a pardon to members of the TTP if they promised not to get involved in terrorist activities. “But as long as they do not come and start undertaking terrorist activities [in Pakistan]. That is our concern,” the FM clarified. Later PM Imran Khan stated in a recent interview that “there are different groups which form the TTP and some of them want to talk to our government for peace.
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MORE INSIDE
Opposition urges Imran to remove ministers named in Pandora Papers STORY ON BACK PAGE
mented from October 1. However, the decision will not apply to K-Electric consumers. Article continues after this advertisement On September 15 last, Nepra revealed additional receipts of over Rs193 billion from the public for fuel price adjustment this year. According to Nepra documents, due to higher costs of generating power from January to July 2021, an additional Rs193.49 billion were collected from consumers as a fuel price adjustment. During this period, Rs48.74 billion units of electricity were sold at a total cost of Rs3.97 per unit.
Nepra documents state that in May, electricity became cheaper by Rs0.26 per unit due to fuel price adjustment. In June it became cheaper by Rs0.19 per unit. However, consumers could barely get relief of Rs4.5 billion. On September 10, NEPRA increased power tariff by Rs1.38 per unit for July 2021 under monthly fuel price adjustment mechanism which imposed an additional burden of Rs21 billion on consumers. The increase was charged in the billing of September 2021 to all categories of consumers except lifeline consumers and KE consumers.
Aamir Liaquat Hussain resigns from National Assembly STORY ON PAGE 02
Swedish cartoonist, who drew Prophet Muhammad caricature, killed in car crash STORY ON PAGE 03