ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the Rs75 billion package for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and unemployed laborers.
The approval was given in a federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.
Moreover, the federal cabinet also gave three weeks more time to Sugar Forensic Commission (SFC) to compile its detailed forensic report on the sugar and wheat scandal.
The cabinet meeting ratified decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee, including waiving off electricity bills of small businesses for three months and approval of a relief package of worth 75 billion rupees to provide financial assistance to labourers and daily wagers, who lost their jobs due to coronavirus pandemic. Cabinet also approved a relief package for journalists and journalistic institutions.
Federal cabinet has also approved request of sugar crises inquiry commission which sought three more weeks to submit its detailed forensic audit report to the prime minister.
The commission tasked with the forensic examination of the wheat, sugar inquiry report had sought three weeks’ time for submission of the thorough report.
Decisions taken by National Coordination Committee on coronavirus were also ratified by the cabinet after taking a detailed briefing about situation of coronavirus in the country.
The cabinet also reviewed political and economic situation of the country and approved hiring on vacant seats of directors of limited companies.
Under the approved ‘Chota Karobar Imdadi Package’ package, the federal government will pay the electricity bills for small businesses for the months of May, June and July.
The cabinet also approved the financial package for journalists infected with the novel coronavirus.
The prime minister has tasked Information Minister Shibli Faraz and Special Assistant for Information Asim Saleem Bajwa to prepare a strategy for distribution of aid.
The cabinet meeting reviewed the measures in controlling the spread of coronavirus in the country. The meeting also endorsed the decisions taken by the National Coordination Committee (NCC).
