185,000 families to get free wheat flour

The federal government on Friday decided to start the distribution of free wheat flour among 185,000 families in the federal capital from March 18 as part of an initiative to provide relief to inflation-hit people during holy month of Ramzan.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who said the government was striving to provide the maximum possible relief to the people amid inflation.

As per the decision, the eligible people would be able to get flour from 40 Utility Stores Corporation outlets.

In order to avoid any inconvenience, the people have been asked to check their eligibility for the free flour by sending an SMS containing their CNIC number to 8717 helpline of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) as the data has been linked with the BISP.

As per the criteria, the families registered with the BISP and having a poverty score of 60 or lesser would be eligible to avail the facility.

The registered families would be entitled to get 30 kilogram of flour in a month. In case of any complaint, the people may also contact a toll-free helpline 0800-05590.

The prime minister said the government was making efforts to reduce the difficulties faced by the low- and-middle-income group,s particularly during the holy month of Ramzan.

He instructed the authorities concerned to take measures to avert long queues of people at the flour distribution points.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Advisor to PM Ahad Cheema, ex-MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Capital Development Authority chairman, Utility Stores Corporation managing director and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday acknowledged the services of late Qazi Abdur Rehman Amritsari, who had proposed the name of the federal capital.

In recognition of his services and on recommendations of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), he was awarded the allotment letter of a residential plot in Park Enclave to the heirs othe f late Abdur Rehman.

The prime minister fulfilled the government of Pakistan’s promise of acknowledging the services of the late Qazi Abdur Rehman Amritsari, said a press release.

He said the services of Amritsari for Pakistan could not be ignored. He said the nation paid tribute to the school teacher Qazi Abdul Rehman who gave an identity to Islamabad.

PM Sharif also directed the CDA authorities to complete all the formalities and provide possession of the plot to the heirs of Qazi Abdur Rehman.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2023.