Wheat, sugar crises: PM vows firm action after release of report on 25th

The federal government will take strict action against those involved in the wheat and sugar crises after release of inquiry commission's report on 25th of this month.
Special Assistant to the Prime Mister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, while briefing newsmen about Federal Cabinet's decisions, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed great displeasure over threats being given to the sugar crisis probe commission.
"He also vowed that strict action would be taken against such elements, if they made threats to the inquiry commission again," she said, adding that the prime minister made it clear that the government's topmost priority was to provide justice to people.
Awan said the prime minister had tasked the FIA commission to probe the crisis upon witnessing the hardships that citizens were facing.
She said that PM Imran would take action based on the recommendations of the final report that would be provided by the commission on April 25.
Awan said the inquiry report had not only raised questions on Pakistan's sugar policy but had also identified the problems of the food system in the country.
She said a technological process would be introduced due to which no one would have the courage to create an artificial food crisis again.
The SAPM said the government machinery was fully active to ensure the availability of quality edibles at affordable prices and no negligence would be tolerated in that regard.
She said the cabinet had been informed that a delegation headed by Salman Shehbaz Sharif convinced the then prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in 2017 to issue a Rs20bn subsidy for sugar.
Awan said the cabinet had been informed that the Sindh government had also approved subsidies for sugar mills in 2014 and 2018 through the Omni Group.
The special assistant said the prime minister had directed to resolve the issues being faced by growers and farmers on immediate basis. Prime Minister Imran Khan's Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar presented a report to the cabinet regarding shortage of sugar and wheat in the country.
The cabinet approved proposals regarding revamping, reconstructing and re-organising Evacuee Trust Property Board, giving a nod to utilise its properties in health, education and housing sectors.
Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza gave briefing to the cabinet about ongoing coronavirus cases and the government's measures to provide relief to corona-hit labour population.
The cabinet was told that 39,000 personal protective kits had been dispatched to all the provinces for protection of paramedical staff dealing with coronavirus-hit patients.
Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Usman Dar informed the cabinet that 717,119 youth had so far registered themselves with Corona Relief Tigers Force, which would work in district, tehsil and at Union Council levels across the country.
Special Assistant on Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar gave a detailed briefing to the cabinet on Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme. The cabinet was told that the federal government was providing cash assistance worth 12,000 rupees to over 12 million deserving families under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme following coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The deserving families would get this cash assistance after biometric verification through over 18,065 sale points or retail shops of Habib Bank Limited and Bank Al-Falah across the country. The cabinet also approved provision of broadband internet service through Universal Service Fund to 62 districts of the country.