ISLAMABAD: Out of the Rs 1.2 trillion Corona virus relief package of the Prime Minister, Rs 297 billion has been spent but the economic and social impact of the relief package cannot be assessed due to non-availability of data.
The British-funded policy brief said in a report that 12 measures had been announced under the relief package, with little spent on wage relief packages and subsidies for utility stores.
The report divides the PM’s relief package into two parts, one of which is based on non-cash measures of Rs 365 billion, including Rs 280 billion for wheat procurement, Rs 70 billion for relief in petroleum products and Rs 70 billion for food and health. Rs 15 billion is included for facilities, in the second part the government has allocated Rs 875 billion for cash expenditure.
According to the report, out of this, Rs 330 billion has been spent or is in the process of being spent, which accounts for 38% of the allocated expenditure. becomes
The Prime Minister had allocated Rs 200 billion for daily wage laborers, but so far only Rs 17 billion has been disbursed, which is 8.5 per cent of the allocated amount. Similarly, Rs 50 billion has been earmarked for subsidy of utility stores out of which only 10 Billions of rupees were spent
According to an official of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the government has directed an audit of the subsidy given to utility stores.
The report said that Rs 145 billion spent under Benazir Income Support Program has also been included in the Corona Relief Package, though BISP’s budget of Rs 150 billion was allocated in June 2019.