6.4m deserving families to get food items at doorstep

LAHORE: Secretary Industry and Commerce Ehsan Bhutta on Monday visited the central Ramazan control room established at Poonch House and briefed the media on its function.

The secretary said as part of the Ramazan package, essential food items will be delivered to 6.4 million deserving families at their doorsteps. He said that following the Punjab Chief Minister's directives, this initiative will be completed within next 15 days. The food hamper will include five items, such as flour, sugar, and ghee. He highlighted that the people would have access to quality items at affordable prices in Ramazan and model bazaars. He said additionally, districts with model bazaars will not have Ramazan bazaars and agricultural fair price shops will also be established during Ramazan in model markets and the central control room at Poonch House will oversee the Ramazan package.

The secretary said officers and officials from six departments will work in two shifts at the control room from 9 am to 10 pm. He said the control room's monitoring will be conducted through online cameras. The secretary said the prices of essential commodities will be monitored using the "Punjab Price App." The Punjab Food Authority will ensure the quality of essential items, while the Urban Unit will make third-party assessment of Ramazan package, he maintained.

The secretary said efforts are underway to enhance the price control mechanism. He said during the last three days, 250 samples of different edible items were collected, out of which 7 failed quality tests and now action is underway against mills supplying substandard ghee. DG Industries Asif Ali Farrukh and other relevant officers were also present on the occasion.