Punjab Food Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran has said that one million atta bags of 10 kg each have been sent to the Ramazan bazaars and trucking points in the province. He stated this while presiding over a meeting held to review the supply of atta here on Tuesday, disclosed an official.
He said 9,48,000 atta bags of 20 kg had been sent yesterday out of which 8,89,000 atta bags were sold whereas 58,701 atta bags were returned as there were no buyers. "Instructions have been issued to the agencies concerned to check illegal use and hoarding of subsidise atta. People should also keep a vigilant eye on such elements as are involved in hoarding of sasta atta," he added.
According to him, services of all departments have been placed at the disposal of DCOs for the preparation of sugar bags to streamline the system of supply of sugar. The Punjab Chief Minister has issued orders for the purchase of sugar at the rate of Rs 45 per kg from sugar mills and to supply it in Ramazan bazaars for Rs 40 per kg for the benefit of the people. Around 1,495,590 packets of 2.5 kg sugar have so far been supplied in Ramazan bazaars whereas 91,347 packets of 2.5 kg were sold in Ramazan bazaars yesterday.
The Minister also said the government is also taking action against the elements involved in profiteering. He said 61,283 raids have been conducted during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak for checking overcharging and 5,947 cases have been registered for profiteering and 148 for not displaying rate lists. A fine amounting to Rs 10,330,336 has been recovered from the offenders.