PESHAWAR: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi on Monday announced a subsidy for motorcyclists across the province to provide relief amid rising fuel prices.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, accompanied by Special Assistant on Information Shafi Jan and Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam, the chief minister criticized the recent increase in petrol prices by the federal government, calling it an “economic burden” on the public.
Afridi said the provincial government rejected the increase in petroleum prices and urged the federal government to consult provinces before making such decisions.
He also advised the federal authorities to reduce their own expenditures instead of placing additional financial pressure on citizens.
The chief minister said the provincial government had decided to provide financial assistance to motorcyclists in response to rising fuel costs.
He stated that approximately 1.4 to 1.6 million motorcycles are currently registered in the province and each registered motorcycle owner would receive Rs2,200 as a subsidy to help cover transportation expenses.
Afridi said the provincial government stands with its citizens during difficult economic conditions.
He further announced that fares for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit would not be increased, with the provincial government absorbing the additional operational costs.
The chief minister added that the government had also introduced austerity measures, including a ban on the purchase and sale of new vehicles and restrictions on international travel by officials in order to reduce expenses.
He said that despite the crash of the provincial government’s helicopter earlier, the administration had decided not to purchase a new one as part of its cost-cutting measures.