“No Violent Mob Will Be Allowed to Enter Islamabad”: Information Minister Ataullah Tarar
Islamabad (Daily Quudrat) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar has said that there are clear orders of the Islamabad High Court regarding road closures and disruption of public movement, and it is our responsibility to ensure that no violent mob enters Islamabad. We are in contact with Jamaat-e-Islami, whose people are peaceful and sensible. The law is equal for everyone. Complaints are also being received regarding the fuel relief scheme, and those complaints are being addressed. The petroleum relief scheme is a targeted subsidy; approximately 25 million motorcycles are registered in Pakistan and will benefit from this scheme.
Speaking to the media here on Sunday, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduced a special fuel relief scheme for the people in the current situation. The Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme is continuing successfully. Petrol and diesel prices are rising across the world, and due to tension in the region, oil prices are continuously increasing.
The Information Minister said that the Prime Minister, sensing the plight of the poor, issued timely instructions to all relevant departments, and the Prime Minister personally monitored every stage of the special relief scheme. He said that the registration process was successfully completed with the cooperation of the Ministry of Information Technology, and the Prime Minister takes special care of the welfare of the people. He said that the Prime Minister included motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles older than 20 years instead of 15 years in the scheme.
The Information Minister said that all motorcycles, rickshaws, and Chingchis registered after January 1, 2006, have become eligible for registration in the scheme. SMS for enrollment in the scheme has also been made free, and the limit of five liters of petrol per token has been abolished. He said that all provincial governments, including those of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, played a full role in the implementation of the scheme. Those using motorcycles, Chingchis, or rickshaws will receive four tokens per month, while vehicles up to 800cc will be given a concession of 100 rupees per liter on 10 liters of petrol every ten days.
He said that this facility is available at all petrol pumps, and OGRA issues regular instructions to petrol stations. The Information Minister said that the scheme has been successfully launched across Pakistan, and so far more than 2.2 million people have registered under the scheme. He said that 92 percent of people use motorcycles, Chingchis, and rickshaws, and the condition of ownership for motorcycles, Chingchis, and rickshaws has also been abolished.
He said that only yesterday, more than 557,000 registrations were completed, and so far 1.9 million tokens have been issued. Tokens have been issued for 152,000 vehicles up to 800cc, and only yesterday more than 545,000 tokens were issued. He said that the Prime Minister is being kept informed about the scheme moment by moment, and further improvements will be made in the scheme in light of public opinion.
He said that this scheme has been introduced for the most deserving people. He said that the administration will ensure that there is no disruption of any kind. It is our responsibility to ensure that no violent mob enters Islamabad. He said that complaints are also being received regarding the fuel relief scheme, and those complaints are being resolved. An awareness campaign is also being run for the public.
The Information Minister said that the public is being informed about registration in the fuel relief scheme through a proper tutorial, and representatives of all provinces were present at the meeting of the implementation committee. He said that data is being collected under the fuel relief scheme. He said that the petroleum relief scheme is a targeted subsidy, and approximately 25 million motorcycles are registered in Pakistan and will benefit from this scheme. He said that under the austerity campaign, the Prime Minister has started implementing many measures. Several ministers did not travel with the Prime Minister to the United Nations General Assembly session, and a very short delegation accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit.
