Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said the Pakistan government is committed to provide financial resources to help lower-income groups to buy basic essential commodities through a targeted subsidy.

While presiding over a meeting, he directed the relevant authorities to finalize the new mechanism of targeted subsidy at the earliest so that it can be formally launched next month.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Special Assistant of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Senator Sania Nishtar, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) President Arif Usmani, Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill and other officers.

Dr Nishtar and Arif Usmani briefed the premier about the proposed system. She told the meeting that with the completion of 92% of the Ehsaas Survey, the remaining work will be completed by the end of this month.

The meeting was told that the introduction of a targeted subsidy system aims to provide financial assistance to millions of families in buying essential items.

Appreciating the officials concerned for preparing a mechanism to provide targeted subsidy, he said the system of uniform subsidy which benefits both the rich and the poor is not only a wastage of government resources but it also deprives the deserving ones.