ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday his government would launch a relief package of Rs28 billion per month "to protect the poor from the burden of petrol and diesel price hike". Under the relief package, he said, 14 million poor families or 85 million people would get Rs2000 per family. "This relief package will be added in the next budget," the premier said. PM Shehbaz said his government's move to increase fuel prices was necessary to save Pakistan from bankruptcy. Shehbaz said Pakistan was burdened with Rs20,000 billion debt by the previous rulers and the current fiscal year's budget deficit stood at Rs5,600 billion.

Source: The Nation May 27, 2022 12:06 UTC