Staff Reporter
On the direction of the Prime Minister to ensure availability of essential commodities especially, flour and sugar at fixed prices, the Punjab government will provide a 10kg bag of flour at a subsidized rate of Rs430 in Sahulat bazaars with the objective to provide relief to deserving people.
The flour will be supplied in special green bags to Sahulat bazaars as had been provided in Ramazan bazaars.
This was stated in a briefing during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting reviewed the establishment of Sahulat bazaars, price control measures, and wheat procurement.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that 362 Sahulat bazaars are being set up in the province where a 10kg bag of flour would be available at a discounted rate of Rs430. He directed the deputy commissioners to make functional these Shula bazaars as soon as possible.
He said that the government has decided to provide a targeted subsidy on flour to provide relief to the deserving people. He directed that the benefit of subsidy should reach the deserving people in all cases.
The Chief Secretary said that as per the directions of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister providing relief to the common man is the top priority of the government. He said that the main objective of establishing Sahulat bazaars is to supply flour and sugar at discounted rates.
He said that all the districts must meet the target of 100 percent procurement of wheat, adding that despite meeting the target of 3.5 million metric tonnes the procurement campaign would continue for another week.
He also lauded the Food Department for successfully meeting the target of the wheat procurement drive.
The Food Secretary briefed the meeting that all arrangements have been finalized for the supply of flour at discounted rates in Sahulat bazaars.
The subsidized flour will be sold in special green bags. He said that with the continuation of the procurement campaign for one more week, more than 4 million metric tonnes of wheat would be procured.
The meeting was attended by administrative secretaries of industries and food departments, commissioners Lahore Division, CEO Urban Unit, director food Punjab and officers concerned while all the deputy commissioners participated through video link.
