Daily Times

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday said focus of government policies was to provide relief to general public, especially poor and deserving segments of society.

Addressing joint press conference along with Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation Umar Lodhi, she said present government would stand by the masses during this difficult juncture.

She said the government was taking maximum steps to control spread of coronavirus in the country with the assistance of provincial governments and other stakeholders.

The SAPM said Cash Emergency Transfer Scheme of Ehsas programme, had been inaugurated by the Prime Minister and Rs.12,000 cash-grant was being provided to the 12 million deserving families across the country.

She said under the cash programme, Rs. 144 billion will be distributed among the deserving families and added supply of essential commodities to the public will be ensured at the chain of Utility Stores Corporation which was playing an important role in this regard.

She said the government has extended the relief package at Utility Stores till Eidul Fitr. She said earlier subsidy was being given on five items but now 19 items will be available at discounted prices. She said that Rs 2.5 billion package has been approved for Utility Stores which could be enhanced to Rs 7 billion as per requirement. Dr Firdous said under the Prime Minister’s relief package, Rs 10 billion have been allocated for USC to ensure availability of daily-use items at affordable prices.

Replying to a question of media persons, she said that Corona Welfare Fund of the Prime Minister was being launched to look after the vulnerable segments of the society. To another question, she said that policies of the government were being reviewed regularly at the meetings of National Coordination Committee, headed by the Prime Minister, and strategy for relief could be modified when deemed necessary. She appreciated the role of philanthropists in fight against coronavirus.