PM Imran Khan announces to cut petrol, electricity prices in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday announced decrease in petroleum and electricity prices, providing a sigh of relief to public amid growing inflation. 

In a televised address, the premier said that petrol and diesel prices will be reduced by Rs10 per litre while power tariff will be cut by Rs5 per unit. 

He said that petroleum and electricity prices will not be jacked up until next budget of fiscal year 2022-23. 

Announcements for IT Sector

100% tax exemption for both companies and freelancers

100% foreign exchange exemption

 100% exemption from Capital gain tax for investments in IT start ups.

Kamyab Pakistan Program

Rs. 407 Billion subsidized loans to be provide in next 2 years

Loans for Youth, Farmers and for Low Cost Housing

Qaumi Sehat Card

Rs. 1 million free medical cover to all citizens by end of March, 2022 (except Sindh)

It will help in private medical hospitals to increase services in Rural areas

Announcement for Industries

Revival of sick units through tax benefits

To attract overseas investment ( Joint ventures) tax holiday  for 5 years.

EHSAAS Programme

Stipend increased from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 14,000 per month

Graduate internship stipend of  Rs. 30,000 per month

2.6 Million scholarships with Rs. 38 Billion allocation

The announcement of relief package comes as the Opposition is trying to put pressure on the government due to what it called bad governance. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has launched an anti-government long march while Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties, is vowing to table no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan in the parliament. 

Independent Foreign Policy Benefits Public

The premier began his speech with country’s foreign policy, stating that the situation across the globe was changing rapidly which subsequently impacted Pakistan.

“I desired an independent foreign policy when I joined politics. The independent policy is what benefits the public of the country,” he said.

Joining the US-led war on terror was an example of wrong foreign policy that cost Pakistan thousands of lives and billions of dollars.

He said that it was an embarrassing moment when the US bombed a country that was supporting it in the war.

He recalled that there were only 10 drone attacks during the government of former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf, but almost 400 were launched during the PML-N and PPP governments.

He said that a corrupt leader, who have stashed wealth in foreign countries, did never support the independent foreign policy.

PECA Laws

The premier defended amendment introduced by the PTI government in Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (“PECA”) that was first enacted in 2016 during the PML-N tenure.

He said that the amendment will not curb the independence of media but aims at eradicating immoral activities on social media.

"A head of state who has not been involved in any corrupt activity is not scared of the media," he pointed out.

He said that some of journalists received bribe to public anti-government stories, claiming that the types of news stories published in Pakistan cannot be allowed in any other democratic country.