Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday has decided to extend a subsidy by one month, announced last month, for motorcyclists and public and goods transport, citing the current situation and the need to continue relief for economically weaker sections.

According to an official announcement, the prime minister directed authorities to prevent increases in travel and freight fares and called for effective monitoring of relief measures to ensure benefits reach deserving people.

PM said the federal government, in cooperation with provincial governments, had rolled out a national relief package worth billions of rupees to support the public in difficult circumstances, adding that efforts to provide relief would continue as much as possible.

He said providing relief to the common man would remain the government’s top priority and that people would not be left alone under any circumstances.

The prime minister also said he hoped the regional situation would improve soon so that petroleum product prices could stabilise.