Gunny bags distributed through mobile app

CS claims 345,000 metric tonnes of wheat has been procured; distribution process goes online

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Major (retd ) Azam Suleman Khan has said that the provincial government is providing all possible facilities to farmers and bags are being distributed in a transparent manner across the province for the first time through a mobile app designed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). The CS expressed these views during a meeting held to review the procurement process of wheat and security arrangements for the holy month of Ramazan.

Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Commissioner Lahore Saif Anjum, CCPO Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed and other officers concerned participated in the meeting whereas IGP Shoaib Dastgir, divisional commissioners and regional police officers joined through video link.

The meeting was informed that to date about 1,418,000 gunny bags have been distributed among 49,000 farmers whereas 345,000 metric tonnes of wheat has been procured in the province.

It was observed that in south Punjab wheat has been harvested from 4.7 million acres of land and gram from 2.2 million acres of land. Reportedly, wheat procurement is in process and approximately 365,000 tonnes of the commodity is available in the stock. Addressing the meeting, the chief secretary said that protection of life and property of people is the foremost responsibility of the government, therefore foolproof security will be ensured in the province during the holy month of Ramazan.

The meeting was also told that the security plan for Ramazan had been finalised, peace committees have been made active and geo-tagging of mosques has been completed across the province.

“The 20-point standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Taraweeh prayers in mosques have been posted in Urdu language at public places for the awareness of citizens.”

The meeting also decided to engage teams of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to resolve issues pertaining to biometric verification during the distribution of financial aid under the Ehsaas Programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2020.