CM pledges wheat to Balochistan

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Friday announced to give 21,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Balochistan to help meet its food needs.

While chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet committee on wheat at his office to review the latest situation of wheat stocks and flour prices, the CM noted that the federal government was responsible for supplying wheat to other provinces including Balochistan. But it has failed to fulfil this important responsibility.

“Balochistan has requested the Punjab government to provide 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat and we decided to give 21,000 metric tonnes of wheat which is more than the requirement,” he said.

He vowed that Punjab would go all-out to meet the food needs of other provinces and a zero-tolerance policy would be followed against the wheat mafia.

To stop the smuggling of wheat, the additional police force would be deployed at all the exit routes, he said and directed the IG police and ACS (Home) to implement the integrated plan for strict monitoring of the exit routes.

The meeting also deliberated on the proposal of supplying wheat to the flour grinding unit owners at the government level while the food secretary briefed about wheat reserves and flour prices.

It was noted that 1,541 FIRs have been registered and a fine of Rs39 million has been imposed on the charges of wheat smuggling.

The number of sale points has also been increased to supply subsidised flour. Earlier, the chief minister handed over a cheque of Rs100 million to Supreme Court Bar Association President Abid Zuberi at his office and mentioned that the welfare of the legal fraternity has always been prioritized by the government. “The role of the lawyers' community is important in the provision of justice,” the CM added and reiterated that his doors are always open to them.

“The government considers the lawyers' community as an important organ of society and more steps would also be taken for the welfare of the lawyers.”

Abid Zuberi appreciated that work was being done in a real sense for the welfare of the lawyers by the incumbent government. The respect and honour given by Pervaiz Elahi-led government are unprecedented, he added.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi and MPAs who called him at his officer, the CM said the lawmakers have made history by resisting all sorts of intimidation and coercion.

“PTI and PML-Q are siamese twins,” he said, adding that people have seen “the so-called lions running away with tails between their legs”.

“The government has ensured to include people from all areas in the composite development process.

The development work has been started in consultation with the parliamentarians and the exemplary performance of the government is known to all,” the CM concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.