Tarin Seeks Proposal For Providing Targeted Subsidy

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2021 ) :Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin Thursday directed SAPMs Dr Waqar Masood and Dr Sania Nishter to work out a well-rounded proposal for providing targeted subsidies with firm timelines for onward submission before the Federal Cabinet.

The minister was speaking at a meeting convened to finalize modalities for disbursement of targeted subsidies, according a Finance Ministry press release.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishter and SAPM on Finance and Revenue Dr Waqar Masood were also present during the meeting.

The finance minister stated that the government was firmly committed to pro-poor agenda and supported the economic empowerment of under-privileged women through the Ehsaas safety net.

The Primary objectiv, he added, was poverty alleviation, socio-economic uplift and financial inclusion of women from the marginalized sections of the society.

Sania Nishtar briefed the finance minister about different proposals which are under consideration for replacing the untargeted subsidies with the targeted ones in compliance with the prime minister's directives to facilitate the under-privileged with more focused and extended coverage.

Dr Ishrat Hussain and Dr Dr Waqar Masood deliberated on the modalities for disbursement of subsidies at the points of sale, including local convenience stores / Kiryana shops.

The finance minister directed to keep in view the convenience of beneficiaries as points of sale were located at distant locations in far-flung areas.