\u2018Relief package is a joke\u2019
\nThe price of various brands of cooking oil and ghee have been increased up to Rs65 and Rs53 per litre, respectively
\n Islamabad
\nAs Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the \u201cbiggest welfare package in the country\u2019s history\u201d, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Wednesday increased the prices of ghee and cooking oil.
\nMeanwhile, opposition leaders heaped scorn at the prime minister\u2019s announcement, with many saying that the subsidies were \u201ctoo little, too late\u201d.
\nAccording to the price list available with Dawn.com that is effective from Nov 3 (today), the prices of various brands of cooking oil and ghee have been increased by up to Rs65 and Rs53 per litre, respectively.
\nThe prices of both commodities are the most expensive in Karachi zone.
\nEarlier today, PM Imran had announced a package to mitigate the hardships of the inflation-hit public. Under the Rs120 billion subsidy programme, eligible families will be able to purchase ghee, flour, and pulses at 30 per cent lower prices for the next six months, he said.
\nThe new package comes more than a year after the premier had approved a Rs71 billion package, disbursed in different phases, for providing relief to the poor through the USC. The package had included lowering the prices of essential edible items, including flour, cooking oil, rice and pulses.
\nAt the time, PM Imran had said that ration cards would be provided to deserving families so that they could buy essential edible items at subsidised rates. However, it remains to be seen how the new package will be implemented.
\n\u2018PM\u2019s relief package is a joke\u2019
\nMeanwhile, some politicians and journalists questioned the premier\u2019s speech and the government\u2019s much-touted relief package.
\nPPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the prime minister\u2019s relief package was \u201cnothing but a joke\u201d.
\n\u201cThe prime minister claims a few families will benefit from the 30pc discount for only six months on ghee, flour and lentils. In three years, ghee increased 108pc, flour 50pc and gas 300pc. Thirty per cent is too little, too late for 200 million people facing historic inflation, poverty and unemployment,\u201d he said.
\nPPP Senator Sherry Rehman called it a \u201cbizarre speech by the blame minister of Pakistan\u201d.
\n\u201cSays all the unprecedented inflation, tsunami of oil, gas prices, essentials is because of past governments and international markets. The PPP faced higher global oil prices over $130 per barrel but local petrol was half of today\u2019s prices,\u201d she said.
\nShe added the PM Imran had not taken responsibility for the economic crisis, skyrocketing inflation, unprecedented public debt, the plummeting rupee and \u201cjust said get ready for more price hikes\u201d.
\n\u201cAnd oh, a \u2018relief package\u2019 for 20 million out of 220 million people. Which package? Ghee prices rose as he spoke,\u201d she said.
\nJournalist Mazhar Abbas took exception to the premier\u2019s claim that he would slash prices by half if \u201ctwo families\u201d return the money they had looted.
\n\u201cBut Mr prime minister, you had promised to recover that money. What have you done in three years?\u201d he asked.
\nActivist Ammar Ali Jan noted that in the speech where PM Imran was supposed to announce a package for the poor, he said it was necessary to further increase petrol prices and warned of looming gas shortages.
\n\u201cThis explains the intensity of the economic crisis we face,\u201d he said.
\nPML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb called on the premier to resign after announcing the \u201cfraud\u201d package. \u201cPM Imran has not announced a relief package, he has announced a takleef [pain] package,\u201d she said, adding that it will bring a new inflationary storm for the people. The PML-N leader said that instead of announcing a package, the incompetent and corrupt prime minister should announce his resignation.
\n\u201cThe next six months will see more inflation, unemployment and economic catastrophe. Is this a relief package? Flour, sugar, electricity, gas, cotton, petrol will be more expensive. Is this your relief package?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Relief package is a joke\u2019 The price of various brands of cooking oil and ghee have been increased up to Rs65 and Rs53 per litre, respectively Islamabad As Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the \u201cbiggest welfare package in the country\u2019s history\u201d, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Wednesday increased the prices of ghee and cooking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-225203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n