LAHORE: Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on Wednesday ordered immediate sealing of flour mills involved in buying wheat at low rates from the government and selling flour at a high price in other provinces.

He said that official wheat quota of such flour mills should be stopped immediately and strict disciplinary action should be taken against the administration of such flour mills.

He stated that it was after detailed consultation with the flour mills that the price of 20 kg bag of flour was fixed at Rs 860, among other important decisions, hence, after these steps, there was no justification left to illegally transfer this low-cost flour to another province or city.

Aleem Khan, during his visit to Bahawalpur and Multan districts, also directed the food department officials to adopt a joint strategy along with local administration to take immediate action and identify the violating flour mills. He clarified that the relief of billions of rupees' subsidy must reach the common man and any hindrance in this regard will be taken into account and the matter will be dealt with swiftly.

The Minister also said that at present 95 percent of the areas had a 20 kg bag of flour at Rs. 860 and 10 kg bag at Rs. 430 in abundance and the sale of this flour was obligatory on every shopkeeper as well.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020