Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has announced provision of four million atta bags of 20kg each to people at the concessionary rate of Rs200 per bag during Ramazan; supply of which has already been started in the province.
He was presiding over a meeting to control prices of essential commodities during Ramazan here on Monday.
Punjab food minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal, chief secretary Kamran Rasool, food secretary Ahsan Raja, industries secretary Javed Majeed, director food Mian Muhammad Ijaz and other officers were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister said the government was paying Rs 300 million as subsidy for this scheme for the benefit of citizens. He directed, MPAs, DCOs and staff of the food department should collectively supervise distribution of low-priced atta bags to be provided by the provincial food department.
He directed the food minister to ensure quality of atta and warned quota and license of flour-mills, which supplied substandard atta, would be cancelled.
It was decided subsidised atta bags would be sold thrice a week: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and only one bag would be sold to one person.
The meeting also gave approval to the design of atta bags according to which chief minister Ramzan package 2005, sale price, weight of bag and ratio of dampness would be printed on green bag. The name of flour-mill and warning "resale prohibited" would also be written on the bag.
The chief minister further directed the administration to closely monitor essential commodities' prices, so that people could be saved from exploitation by profiteers during Ramazan.
He also ordered setting up of Ramzan bazaars in all cities of the province where quality items of daily-use including vegetables, fruits, pulses, basin, ghee, meat, sugar and poultry products would be provided at concessionary rates.
He directed constitution of special monitoring teams throughout the province for maintaining prices of essential items at reasonable rates.