Prime Minister Shehbaz chairs a meeting on austerity measures. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that the government is taking and will continue to take all possible measures to provide relief to the public during the current challenging situation.
The Prime Minister chaired a meeting where officials briefed him on the progress of subsidy payments and national fuel reserves and consumption.
The premier said passenger buses would receive a monthly subsidy of Rs100,000, while minibuses and coaches would get Rs40,000 to prevent fare hikes. To curb rising food and commodity prices, trucks were allocated Rs 70,000, heavy trucks Rs 80,000 and vans Rs 35,000 per month.
“These amounts are disbursed through digital wallets to ensure transparency,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz noted that the grant, initially scheduled for Monday, was released on Saturday following his special directives. Provincial governments had provided vehicle and fleet information to the federal government to facilitate the program.
Read: PM orders suspension of 25% toll hike amid rising fuel prices
He praised the Balochistan government for depositing its allotted share of the national package and thanked Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.
Solution: April 5, 2026.
وازیرِ اعزم محمد شهباز شریف کے کے کے کے توران پول پر کے کے کے کے کے کے سبسدی ک نفاز پ پیش رفت ک کے اجلاتی اجلاتی. The meeting will also be briefed on the progress on the provision of subsidies and on food reserves and consumption… pic.twitter.com/dUJBBSE7ZW
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) 5 April 2026
The Prime Minister urged other provinces to submit their contributions promptly. “In the past three weeks, Rs 129 billion has been provided as public relief. We cannot leave the citizens alone in these challenging times,” he said.
The prime minister said an immediate Rs80 per liter cut in petrol tax was announced along with a Rs6b subsidy from Pakistan Railways to maintain train fares and a withdrawal of the 25% quarterly tax hike.
Read more: PM announces Rs80 reduction in kerosene tax, lowers petrol price to Rs378 per litre
Officials also reported that the country maintains sufficient fuel reserves to meet domestic needs.
The meeting included briefings from the intelligence agency on the government’s austerity measures and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Dr. Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahsan Iqbal, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Assistant Foreign Minister, Tar Kaqyani and Tar Tal Burki Azhari. Bajwa, DG IB and other senior officials.
