K-P asks Punjab to lift ban on flour delivery

Caretaker govt kicks off Ramazan package

PESHAWAR:

The caretaker government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has contacted the Punjab government with a request to remove ban on the delivery of flour and all other obstacles immediately.

The caretaker government has also started implementation of the Ramazan package worth Rs19.77 billion for 36.8 million people registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in the province, whereby 5.7 million households would be supplied 30kg flour each.

Apart from the establishment of more than 7,600 sale points, other points have also been set up at 1,600 Utility Stores from where flour can be obtained by showing the card.

Minister for Food and Irrigation Fazl Elahi and Minister of Information Barrister Feroze Jamal Kakakhel, while addressing a press conference at the food department, said that the prime minister announced the provision of free ration in Ramazan, in continuation of which the government is also starting the free ration programme.

“Due to floods and poverty, people are facing economic difficulties, and despite these difficulties, we are giving packages,” he said. “We produced 1.3 million tonnes of wheat,” he said.

Food Minister Elahi said that this year, the government gave a subsidy of Rs35 billion to PASCO and bought wheat.

During the month of Ramazan, from Rs19.77 billion, the government will give flour to 5.7 million families or 36.8 million people under BISP, and 7,600 sale points will be established, alongside 1,600 points at Utility Stores, he added.

Every eligible family will need to bring original identity card, those who are not registered in BISP can apply and get registered within 24 hours, he further said.

The food minister said that currently the subsidised supply has been stopped and the Ramazan package will be implemented.

Subsidised flour supply will resume after Ramazan, he added.

He also asked philanthropists to help the poor and asked hoarders and those who sell things at expensive rates to change their behaviour. Secretary food said that flour will be given on BISP card.

“This is a targeted subsidy. Every household will get it once, we will do full monitoring so that there is no problem,” he added. “The federal government has provided BISP data and linked us with Utility Stores.”

Three bags of 10 kg will be given to the beneficiaries in a month, he said.

The secretary said that K-P procures 75 percent wheat from Punjab and other sources while it produces 25 percent itself.

Earlier, there were some issues related to the availability of wheat flour last month. This had prompted Caretaker Minister for Communications and Works (C&W) Muhammad Ali Shah to order redressal of complaints related to flour distribution in the Malakand Division.

Reports like these give rise to the speculations that there might be some cases of mismanagement.