KARACHI: Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail while giving further details of the Sasta Petrol-Diesel Scheme launched by the prime minister said on Saturday that the hiking prices of petroleum products has strengthened rupee and gave boost to the stock market.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad along with Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Miftah Ismael said anyone earning less than Rs40,000 can avail this scheme. “One can send his national identity card number to 786 on June 1 and avail the Rs2,000,” he added.

Responding to a question, the minister said he did not know whether the petrol price will see another increase at the month-end. “The petroleum prices have just been raised, hopefully there would be no more increase on June 1,” he maintained. He also said that there was no proposal under consideration to raise the electricity tariff.