ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has regretted that elite classes in the country had a monopoly over 90 percent resources of the country and stressed that they did not deserve any subsidies.
Addressing the first meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said that Allah Almighty had bestowed upon them the responsibility to serve the nation and reiterated to meet their expectations by striving day and night.
The prime minister underscored that they are required to control the issue of tax evasion and power and gas thefts to ensure the availability of maximum resources for the development of the country.
He further said that the government was ensuring all-out efforts for the availability of daily commodities during the holy month of Ramazan at affordable prices and declared that no leniency in this regard would be tolerated.
Highlighting the huge economic challenges, he said that the masses had given them the responsibility to address these serious issues and they were equally answerable to the people who had given them a mandate to form the government.
He urged the members of the cabinet to serve the nation and country with new fervor and commitment so that in history, they could be remembered for delivering on their promises.
After the February 8 general elections, the political parties received a split mandate, the PML-N, PPP, and the allied parties were given the mandate to form the government. Now, this mandate should be respected which also requires that they should concentrate their energies and move on the path of progress rapidly, he added.
The prime minister said that during their previous 16-month government, the people had witnessed their performance, adding that they saved the country from running into default.
The prime minister said when they assumed the reigns of the previous government, they had two choices; either to sit as silent spectators or be counted, at that time they had decided to take responsibility for the country. Then the interim government followed them but the economic situation in the country was stable and did not worsen, he opined.
The prime minister said that once more, they took the responsibility of steering the country out of the huge challenges and without wasting time, they should tread upon that path leading to destination.
Felicitating the nation on the arrival of Ramazan, he said that about Rs. 12 billion Ramazan Package was being initiated under which the edible items at the Utility Stores and mobile utility stores would be provided to the poor and deserving.
Besides, under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) millions of rupees were being distributed among the poor as an additional cash amount. He underlined the need for strict monitoring of the distribution of different items under the Ramazan package so that the foodstuff should be readily available to the deserving.
