Punjab to dispatch '5,000 tons' of wheat to KP on daily basis

The Punjab government has decided to dispatch "5,000 tons" of wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis. This decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office, here on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that helping the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is our responsibility adding that the Punjab government will provide wheat from its stock as a goodwill gesture to help overcome the flour shortage.

He also directed to continue steps for stabilizing the price of flour adding that unjustified increase in the price of Chakki flour will not be tolerated and assured to take necessary steps in this regard.

The meeting was told that the food department inspected 1119 flour mills and took action against 542 mills by suspending their wheat quota. Similarly, 88 flour mills' licenses have been suspended and fine of Rs140 million has been imposed.

Along with it, sale of flour bags continuous on fixed rates at sale points of different districts. Provincial administration and food department officials have also been activated to stabilize the price of flour.

The chief minister reiterated that ample wheat stocks are available and there is no flour shortage, adding that he personally monitored flour availability during visits to various districts.

He directed to further strict the monitoring of wheat grinding in flour mills. Law is in action against mills involved in the sale of wheat quota in open market and action is in progress against food department officers involved in irregularities and negligence of duties, he added.

Secretary food told that around 25000 tons wheat is being provided to flour mills.

Senior PTI leader Jehangir Khan Tareen, provincial ministers Sami Ullah Chaudhary, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema MPA, chief secretary and others attended the meeting.

Moreover, the CM Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting in which arrangements for holding the 2nd Lahore Biennale 2020 were reviewed.

Commissioner Lahore Division gave a briefing regarding arrangements being made for holding the 2nd Lahore Biennale 2020.

The meeting was apprised that the inaugural ceremony of Lahore Biennale will be held on 26th January at Hazoori Bagh Lahore. President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi will inaugurate Lahore Biennale while Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar will be the chief guest on the eve of the concluding ceremony of Lahore Biennale. Concluding ceremony of Lahore Biennale will be held on 29th February at Shalamar Garden.

Lahore Biennale will be the biggest cultural event in the history of Pakistan and 88 international artists from 40 countries will participate in this mega programme.

Usman Buzdar said that Lahore is the centre of culture and tourism of Pakistan and it is the priority of PTI government to promote culture and tourism for achieving economic prosperity. Holding of Lahore Biennale in the heart of Punjab will project soft image of Pakistan, he added.

Excellent arrangements should be made for holding this ceremony, he directed. Outstanding hospitality will be extended to international guests coming to Lahore for this mega event. Punjab government will extend all possible cooperation for holding this mega event.

Usman Buzdar directed district administration and police to make the best arrangements for holding this event. He also directed to make a special focus on traffic management and effective traffic plan should be formulated keeping in view holding this mega event and arrival of Bangladesh cricket team. He further directed that people should be informed about alternate traffic routes so that they may not face any trouble.

Organizers of Lahore Biennale thanked Usman Buzdar for giving his assurance of extending cooperation and further paid him compliments that he also extended full cooperation to make this event successful in the past also.

Member Provincial Assembly Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Chief Secretary, IG Police, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DG Lahore Walled City Authority, Secretaries of finance, information and archives departments, higher education, schools education, youth affairs, sports, archaeology and tourism, Auqaf, Commissioner Lahore Division, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, DG LDA, DG PHA, DG Protocol, Chairman PRA, MD TDCP and others attended the meeting. Office-holders of International Organization Biennale also participated in the meeting.