KARACHI: Sindh government on Wednesday announced to provide Rs 6,080 million subsidy on wheat, directing the flour mills to provide flour at Rs 34.50 per kg in retail market.
The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at the Chief Minister House.According to an official handout, the chief minister took serious notice of increase in prices of flour in the province and said that the trend of illegal profiteering, unauthorised hoarding and disposal/sale of wheat on excess prices to any other country could not be tolerated at any cost.
He warned the traders, businessmen and salesmen to refrain from increasing the price of flour and said that the provincial government had decided to provide subsidy of Rs 68 crore for two months on wheat, so as to provide flour at reasonable rate to poor people of the province.Shah further said that the government machinery at all levels would ensure control of flour price in the province.
It was decided that Sindh Food Department would provide wheat to flour mills on subsidised rate and flour ex-mill price would be Rs33 per kg, while the flour would be sold at Rs 34.50 per kg on retail to consumers and people. The chief minister directed all deputy commissioners of the province to ensure provision of flour at subsidised rate of Rs 34.50 per kg to people, and all out efforts and measures be evolved to follow and implement the decisions in letter and spirit.
He further directed that special magisterial teams be formed to have constant vigilance on supply of wheat and flour, and supply of flour to people at price fixed by the government. It was decided that those retailers, traders and businessmen, who violated the decisions and directives, would be dealt accordingly. It was decided that stern action would be taken against violators.
Earlier, Secretary Food Aftab Ahmed Memon informed the meeting that there was total stock of 680,239 metric tonnes wheat with food department. According to break up, there was stock of 73,507 tonnes of wheat in Karachi region, 95,977 tonnes in Hyderabad, 352,123 tonnes in Sukkur, 78,097 tonnes in Mirpurkhas, while there was stock of 80,534 tonnes of wheat in Larkana region. He informed that during last month of December 2012, price in open market for 100 kg bag was Rs 3,100 to Rs 3,150 per 100 kg, while the government issued price of 100 kg bag was Rs 2,800, however, in open market, the price of 100 kg bag wheat was Rs 3,160 to Rs 3,480. – DailyTimes
