LAHORE:
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has announced that the government will provide a subsidy of Rs18 billion to allow for discounted rates of flour for consumers.
The food department will be issued wheat for Rs1330 per 40kg and a flour bag of 20kg will be available to the consumers for Rs785. Punjab government has a stock of 3,946,000 metric tons of wheat which will prove enough for meeting the requirements till the beginning of next year, he added.
He added that the city district government and the food department have been directed to provide ‘roti’ to the common man at affordable rates and strict action will be taken against those who charge higher rates.
The Punjab law minister said that the chief minister has constituted a committee comprising three ministers to fix wheat prices for the year. An abundant stock of wheat is available in the province and that there is no question of shortage in the market, he further said.
The minister assured that the food department had evolved a strategy for ensuring the quality of flour and provision of benefit of subsidy to the common man. Steps would be taken with industrialists for provision of flour to the labourers on cheaper rates in the industrial areas.