The Social Solidarity Ministry wants to fine-tune and expand its cash subsidy programs, sources close to the matter said yesterday. The committee drafting the new measures — which brings together the ministers of social solidarity, finance, supply, and military production — recently expressed willingness to expand the scope of the government’s cash subsidy programs to include more segments of society, in addition to increasing the allowance paid out through the Takaful and Karama initiatives, according to the sources. This will be made possible through the ongoing purge of the subsidy rolls, they add. The move comes as part of government efforts to shore up the social safety net as inflation rises and is a key item on the Madbouly Cabinet’s four-year policy program. Other measures included new income tax breaks as well as raises to the wages and pensions of state bureaucrats and military and police personnel. No details were provided on the expected timeline for the new measures.

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