29 September 2004	Wednesday	13 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Sept 28: The Punjab government would provide 50,000 flour bags of 20kg to people during Ramazan at a rate Rs30 to 40 less than open market.

The Provincial Price Monitoring Committee, which met here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Rana Qasim Noon, minister for agriculture marketing, made the announcement. The Punjab government would release an additional 125,000 tons of wheat for the purpose.

People would get this subsidized flour for three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - during the first three weeks of the holy month and for the all seven days during the last week. Sale points and fair price shops would be established and colour of the flour bag would be green to differentiate it from rest of the bags.

Supervisory committees, comprising representatives of district governments, public and food department, would be formed to monitor prices and weight of bags in the market.

Representatives of the Pakistan Poultry Association, who also attended the meeting, assured the meeting there would be no increase in prices of poultry products. The meeting was also told that ghee prices would be reduced by Rs2 per kilogram and milk by Rs2 per litre.