Flour shortage overcome, says minister

LALAMUSA: Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan Monday said the Punjab government has overcome the issue of flour shortage by taking immediate steps.

Addressing an oath-taking ceremony of office-bearers of Gujrat Press Club in Dinga, the minister said real crisis of flour is in Sindh. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has pulled the country out of economic crisis. He said the Punjab government has made progress in education and health sectors under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. He said the CM would complete his tenure. Later, addressing a press conference in village Noor Jamal, the minister said the conspiracy of creating artificial shortage of flour in Punjab was foiled.

The minister said the Punjab CM has taken immediate steps to combat shortage of flour. The minister said District Food Controllers of five districts were suspended and flour mills owners were fined to the tune of Rs 140 million over the violation of licence agreements and 88 licences and wheat quota of hundreds of flour mills was suspended.

The CM claimed 50,000 flour bags were sent at 337 sale points and 181 trucking points in Punjab and out of which 40,000 bags were sold. He said return of 10,000 wheat bags reflects that there was no shortage of flour. He said former chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has criticised the government sitting in London.

The minister said Shahbaz Sharif will have to come back. He said Chaudhry brothers played an important role in the progress of Gujrat, saying that the PML-Q is an important ally of the PTI-led government.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gujrat Dr Khurram Shahzad, District Police Officer (DPO) Syed Touseef Haider, MNA Syed Faiz ul Hassan Shah, MPA Mian Akhter Hayat, MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad and others were also present on the occasion.

Couple deprived of cash, valuables: Two bandits deprived a man and his wife of cash, gold jewellery, a cell phone and other valuables in a broad daylight on Monday. Saqib Saeed of Kotla Qasim Khan and his wife were heading towards his in-laws house at Mohallah Qasba in the area of city police Lalamusa.

When they reached near Aligarh School two motorcyclist gunmen intercepted them and took away 6-toal gold bungles, two rings and other valuables from them. Reportedly, the robbers were having a number plate of police. Saqib has returned from Spain one week ago.