Dealers fleece seekers of ‘free’ wheat flour

Taking notice of complaints regarding the charging of money by dealers in the distribution of free flour in some parts of the province under the provincial government Ramazan relief package, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has ordered strict action against those involved.

He ordered assigning special tasks to special branch to effectively monitor the distribution of wheat flour to the deserving households across the province.

The chief minister directed the intelligence agency to strictly monitor the entire distribution process at supply points throughout the K-P, and report such mal-practice to the district administration concerned, further directing the authorities to take quick action on special branch reports, lodge FIRs against those involved, arrest them immediately, and give them exemplary punishment.

He issued these directives while chairing a high level meeting to review progress on the distribution of free wheat flour to the deserving families of the province under Ramazan package Wednesday.

The meeting reviewed in depth progress so far made in this regard, matters related to carrying out the distribution in a more organized manner; and other related issues. Besides Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry the meeting was attended by relevant administrative secretaries, high-ups of police, commissioner Peshawar Division and other relevant quarters.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, the chair made it clear to all that free-of-cost wheat flour was meant for the deserving households and ordered ensuring that only deserving families get the flour under the package.

He further directed necessary measures to ensure the pre-determined quality of the free flour being provided to the deserving families, adding that inspectors of food department should be assigned duties to regularly visit the flour mills to have a check on the quality of flour so that action could be taken against the mill owners supplying substandard flour.

Expressing concern on some unpleasant incidents as a result of mismanagement during the distribution, Azam Khan directed the authorities to take necessary steps for a well-planned and organized handout, and make sure that such incidents are not repeated.

Moreover, the chief minister ordered inquiry into the incident that occurred at Sports Complex Hayatabad, Peshawar, during flour distribution a few days ago and which caused damage to the building so that responsibility could be fixed.

Briefing the meeting about the progress so far made on the distribution, it was informed that so far 57 per cent of the targeted population had been provided free flour package of three bags of 10 kilos each, and the set target would be achieved before the end of the holy month.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2023.