The federal government has decided to stop providing subsidies to government officials ahead of this month's planned discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a new loan package. According to media reports, the subsidy given to customs officers from grades 17 to 22 has been abolished. Sources say that the subsidized house rent and medical charges to customs officers have been abolished. According to sources, the customs officers were being given these incentives from the common pool fund, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had ordered to end subsidies and incentives from the common pool fund.

It is to be noted that there will be talks with the IMF this month on a new loan program, sources say that unnecessary subsidies and pension reforms will be part of the talks. Earlier Friday, after Pakistan completed a short-term loan program of $3 billion, a schedule was set between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for negotiations on a new major loan program. The IMF delegation is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 15 to discuss the new loan program. The mission will first negotiate at the technical level before moving on to policy-level discussions.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan