Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has said that the government is committed to guaranteeing the rights of low-income people and that he understands the situation of citizens who have been negatively affected by the recent reforms in the ration card system.
The president's comments come one day after reports were circulated quoting Minister of Supply and Internal trade Ali El-Moselhi as saying that citizens who own a private car will be excluded from the ration card programme.
However, Minister El-Moselhy has denied these reports.
The minister added that citizens who have been wrongfully excluded from the ration card programme should submit an official complaint, and vowed that they would be re-entered into the programme within two weeks.
Last year, the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade started implementing a plan to restrict the ration cards to low-income people
The plan included four stages, three of which have already been applied and the fourth is currently underway.
The first and second stage involved the removal of citizens who consume more than 1,000 k/wt of electricity, pay more than EGP 1,000 in phone bills or possess more than 10 acres of agricultural land.
The third stage included those who pay more than EGP 30,000 in school fees per child or more than EGP 100,000 to the tax authority. The fourth stage includes those who have more than three cars or possess more than 15 acres of agricultural land.
Short link: