12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 11: More than half of 63,300 deserving families chosen for supply of a 20kg atta bag Rs30 below the market price every fortnight under the 'Sasta Atta Scheme' from Jan 1 have not received even a single bag till date.

Only 27,715 flour bags have been sold to the 63,300 poor families under the scheme since Jan 1 instead of the scheduled 189,000 as 126,000 bags were required to be sold to these families every month. The sale of the required number of cheap atta bags was impossible because only 126,600 coupons had been distributed for the purchase of flour till Wednesday.

This was stated at a meeting held here on Wednesday with district Nazim Mian Amer in the chair to review the supply position of cheap flour. The Nazim was informed that the subsidized flour was being sold at 153 sales points at present.

The Nazim ordered that the number of sales points should be increased to 303 to ensure its easy availability at the union council level. He said the families getting flour bags Rs30 below the market price twice a month should be supplied coupons for the next three months.

The meeting was also attended by Punjab Tourism Minister Aslam Iqbal, Chief Minister's adviser Akhtar Rasool, District Coordination Officer Khalid Sultan, Food director Jawad Rafiq Malik, District Officer (Revenue) Malik Mohammad Bakhsh, Pakistan Flour Mills Association representatives and union council Nazims.

US official: US Consulate Principal Officer William M. Howe inaugurated General Hospital's emergency ward extension here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Howe expressed satisfaction over the healthcare facilities being provided to the patients at the hospital and praised the Pakistani doctors for their professional capabilities and devotion to duty.

Hospital principal Prof Ali Ajwad Shah said the patients coming to the emergency were provided free medicines and treatment. Mr. Howe also inspected the 200 lines digital exchange of the hospital.