TARGETED SUBSIDY ON FLOUR ACCORDING TO EHSAS PROGRAM DATA: A. ALEEM KHAN

FLOUR PRICE WOULD BE FURTHER REDUCED FOR THE NEEDY ONES

NEW SYSTEM WILL BENEFIT 2.5 CRORE PEOPLE OF 4 MILLION FAMILIES

A high-level departmental meeting chaired by Senior & Food Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan has decided to limit the subsidy on flour and bring down the prices of subsidized flour significantly. In this regard, the recommendations for the provision of targeted subsidy on flour were considered in detail. Speaking at the meeting, Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that presently, the supply of subsidized flour to every citizen is being implemented. He said that in the new system, subsidized flour would be provided only to the needy people for which the data of Ehsas Program would be used and this step would further reduce the price of flour which would also help the citizens in providing them more relief. Abdul Aleem Khan directed the authorities to prepare coordinated recommendations for targeted subsidy so that a final briefing could be given to Prime Minister Imran Khan on this issue. He said that comprehensive mechanism evolved loved while the bag of this flour would be green colour so that the subsidized flour reaches only the deserving people. Abdul Aleem Khan said that in the new system two and a half crore people from 4 million households in Punjab province will benefit from this subsidy and they will have significant savings on the supply of this flour. Senior & Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan clarified that changes are also being made in the procurement of wheat in the Food Department, keeping stock and supply of wheat to flour mills and the Government has wheat as stock only for emergencies. This will save billions of rupees on the Provincial Government and will also promote open market for wheat like rice, Abdul Aleem Khan added.

In this high level meeting, the Secretary and Director Food gave a detailed briefing to Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan on the new system of targeted subsidy and said that selection of flour mills would be implemented through open tendering while the district administration in collaboration with the Food Department will work jointly to provide subsidy to the people. Similarly, flour mills will ensure uninterrupted supply of low flour and citizens will be able to get ample subsidized flour as per their need.