Punjab to send 5,000 ton wheat to KP daily: CM Usman Buzdar

LAHORE:The Punjab government has decided to dispatch 5,000-ton wheat to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis. The decision was made in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, the CM said that helping people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is our responsibility, adding that the Punjab government would provide wheat from its stock as a goodwill gesture to help overcome flour shortage there. He also ordered for continuing steps for stabilising the price of flour, adding that unjustified increase in the price of chakki flour would not be tolerated.

The meeting was told that the Food Department inspected 1,119 flour mills and took action against 542 mills by suspending their wheat quota.

Similarly, 88 flour mills’ licences had been suspended and fine worth Rs 14 crore was imposed. Along with it, the sale of flour bags was continuing on fixed rates at sale points of different districts.

The provincial administration and the Food Department officials had also been activated to stabilise price of flour. The chief minister reiterated that ample wheat stocks were available and there was no flour shortage, adding that he personally monitored flour availability during visits to various districts. He ordered for strict monitoring of wheat grinding at flour mills.

The law is in action against the mills involved in sale of wheat quota in the open market and action was in progress against the Food Department officers involved in irregularities, he added. The secretary food said that around 25,000-ton wheat was being provided to flour mills.

Senior PTI leader Jehangir Khan Tareen, provincial ministers Samiullah Ch, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, MPA, chief secretary and others attended the meeting. biennale: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday said that it was a priority of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to promote culture and tourism for achieving economic prosperity.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held here to review arrangements for the second Lahore Biennale 2020.The commissioner Lahore division gave a briefing regarding arrangements being made for holding the biennale. The meeting was apprised that the inaugural ceremony of Lahore Biennale will be held on Jan 26 at Hazoori Bagh Lahore.

President Dr Arif Alvi will inaugurate the event while Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar would be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony on Feb 29 at Shalamar Gardens. The Lahore Biennale would be the biggest cultural event in the history of Pakistan and 88 international artists from 40 countries would participate in the programme.

Usman Buzdar said that Lahore was the centre of culture and tourism in Pakistan, adding that holding of Lahore Biennale in the heart of Punjab would project a soft image of Pakistan.

Outstanding hospitality would be extended to international guests coming to Lahore, he said and added that the Punjab government would extend all possible cooperation for holding of the mega event.

Usman Buzdar directed the district administration and police to make the best arrangements for holding the event. He also ordered for making special arrangements for traffic management and effective traffic plan should be evolved keeping in view holding of the mega event and arrival of Bangladesh cricket team.

The organisers of Lahore Biennale thanked Usman Buzdar for giving his assurance of extending cooperation. MPA Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, chief secretary, IG Police, additional chief secretary (home), DG Lahore Walled City Authority and secretaries of various departments attended the meeting.