Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a major relief to masses on Tuesday, announced Rs50 billion package for electricity consumers, saying the tariffs would not be increased for protected customers consuming up to 200 units for a period of three months.
The Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, addressing an event in Islamabad said, “The household consumers who consume up to 200 units of electricity will get a subsidy for three months — July, August, September.”
The prime minister, whose government has been under severe criticism for burdening the salaried class through the new budget, said the subsidy would cost the national exchequer Rs50 billion.
“These households make up 94% of the electricity consumers. This subsidy will be funded through our budget’s development fund,” he said, reminding the nation that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had slashed power prices sans allocation in the budget.
Shehbaz said under the package, cost of per unit electricity will be Rs4 to Rs5 per unit and which will help fund the construction of 2,251 houses for those in need.
He stated that a separate office is being established for premium number plates.
These plates will now be issued through auctions, and the fee for choice number plates will be revised. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that society is facing a dangerous situation regarding drugs. Since March, 141 actions have been taken against drug dealers by the Narcotics Control Wing, resulting in the arrest of 158 individuals.
Fourteen vehicles have been seized, along with large quantities of various types of drugs, including ice, heroin, crystal, hashish, raw liquor, and other narcotics. He mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari, during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House shortly after assuming the presidency, instructed a crackdown on drugs. Unfortunately, the drug business is rampant in the country. The organization must take action against drugs, and we all need to fight against drugs together.
He stated that the Excise Department discovered that drug money was being sent to the account of a drug dealer named Qurban Shah. Concrete evidence has been obtained from the mobile phone of the accused, who is currently in Islamabad.
The ministry is seeking support from interior ministry for his arrest. A letter was sent to the concerned bank on May 23 regarding the drug dealer’s account, but the bank has not responded so far. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon reported that an accused, Basit Khawaja, who used to supply drugs in a concealed area of Karachi and also brought drugs from Islamabad, has been arrested. He noted that the bail notice was not even issued. Today, the accused is traveling to Lahore by ship from Karachi. He said that the Excise Department will continue to wage jihad against drugs with all due diligence.
