October 16, 2003	Thursday	Sha'aban 19, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, Oct 15: Punjab cabinet here on Wednesday approved a subsidy of Rs1,005 million for providing wheat flour to the people on concessional rates during the holy month of Ramazan.

Presiding over the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Illahi said the government would provide three million flour bags of 20kg each at the rate of Rs160 under the Ramazan package. The people would thus be getting a subsidy of Rs35 per 20 kg bag.

He directed the department concerned to ensure that the flour bags under the package are delivered a week prior to the commencement of the holy month. The flour on concessional rates would be sold at the special Friday, Saturday and Sunday bazaars.

Mr Illahi said steps had been taken for monitoring of quality and quantity of flour to be sold under the package. The bags would also carry the contents.

The daily supply of wheat to flour mills has been enhanced from 8,000 metric tons to 11,000 metric tons. The chief minister also set up a committee under food minister Chaudhry Mohammad Iqbal to monitor the quality of edibles in the markets.

Besides, he said, an effective control on the prices of essential commodities, particularly food items, should be maintained.

He said special attention should be given on unhindered supply of food items so that there is no shortage of any commodity.

The meeting approved a draft law for establishment of an autonomous and independent authority for setting up of New Murree City. The draft law would be placed before the provincial assembly during its forthcoming session.

The new project is envisaged to be set up over an area of 3,000 acres. The chief minister would be the chairman of the new authority. Besides government officials, experts from the private sector would be inducted in the new authority.

The chief minister also ordered establishment of an internal system of mechanism in the provincial departments. He said elimination of corruption in government institutions was the responsibility of their respective heads.