There is no let up in the rush at the sale points designated for the distribution of subsidised flour in the city. Scores of men and women are regularly witnessed standing in queues for hours to buy flour bags at subsidised rate. "It is surprising that the number of people thronging the sale points is not diminishing despite the fact that about ten days have past since the government had started the distribution process," said a government official, Akbar Ali Bhatti.
"There are complaints that some people purchase flour at lower rate and later sell it on higher prices in the open market," remarked an official at the bazaar. Due to this unfair practice, several deserving people return to their homes empty-handed, he remarked.
Another official said it was very difficult to manage crowds as the number of customers at these points had registered a significant increase due to a huge difference in prices as compared to the market. Abid Mehmood, a low-income government employee, said he had been standing in a queue for more than three hours to purchase flour, and after that he would have to stand in another queue for sugar.
Another low-income public servant, Muhammad Faraz, lauded the efforts of the Punjab government for providing edible commodities particularly sugar and flour at cheaper prices. He, however, was of the view that the government should have made adequate arrangements to avoid rush and save people from inconvenience during the holy month of Ramazan.
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