Punjab government has distributed 9 million flour bags of 20 kg each and 10,000 matric ton of sugar at subsidised rates to the people during the past 12 days as part of the Ramazan package.
Talking to Business Recorder here on Sunday, Punjab Food Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran said that the government has allocated Rs 8 billion to provide atta and sugar to the people at subsidised rates during the holy month of Ramazan, out of which Rs 4 billion have been utilised.
He further said that Punjab food department was distributing 16-thousand tone flour everyday to the poor segment of the society at Rs 200 per 20kg bag and "government has to double the amount of subsidy if the demand of the flour remains the same".
Earlier, he inspected Shadman , Whadat Road and Model Town stalls at Ramazan bazaars and inquired from the people about the availability and prices of essential commodities. Home Secretary Punjab Nadeem Hassan Asif, Secretary Food Punjab, Irfan Elahi, Commissioner Lahore Kusro Pervez, DCO Lahore Sjjad Butta were also accompanied him. He said that Sasta atta is being provided to the poor for the first time in the history of the country and billions of rupees are being spent under Ramazan Package for the benefit of common man.
He said that all the efforts being made by the government are aimed at the welfare and benefit of the poor and hapless people. Talking to newsmen during his surprise visit of Model Town Ramazan bazaar, said provision of daily use items during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak is his duty which he will perform at any cost.
He appreciated the services of local elected representatives and district administration regarding excellent arrangements in Ramazan bazaar.
He asked the administration to deal with iron hand the elements involved in misuse of Sasta atta. He said that all measures are being taken for improvement of arrangements in Ramazan bazaars and better results are being witnessed.
Lauding Punjab government's move to provide relief to them during Ramazan, people said that it had become difficult for them to buy 'atta' due to its ever-increasing price but Ramazan package has brought relief to them. Uzma a housewife, appreciated the Punjab government for providing twenty-kilogram 'atta' bags throughout Ramazan at Rs 200 against its price of Rs580-600 in the open market. "This practice should continue even after Ramazan in the best interest of public sbecause the poor cannot buy 'atta' at exorbitant rates," she demanded.
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