March 4, 2006	Saturday	Safar 3, 1427

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LAHORE, March 3: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced on Friday a scheme to provide sugar to the poor at subsidised rates.

The scheme will benefit 500,000 families already registered with the government under the subsidised flour package, with each family getting a two-kilogram packet at Rs20 per kg twice a month.

Sugar is being sold at Rs40 per kg in the open market and Rs27.50 per kg at utility stores. Its ex-mill rate, at present, is Rs30 per kg.

Chairing a meeting held to overcome the sugar crisis, the chief minister said mills in the province would provide 100,000 sugar sacks at the rate of Rs25 per kg to the government which in turn would sell it at Rs20 per kg, giving a subsidy of Rs5 on every kilogram. The meeting was also attended by food minister Chaudhry Iqbal, senior officials, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association chairman Zaka Ashraf, Punjab president Shahid Shafi and executive members Mian Waqas and Chaudhry Wahid.

He said the government was devising an effective strategy to keep the sugar price at a reasonable level. He asked the mills to play their role in stabilising the prices.

The chief minister said all DCOs would be responsible for the transparent sale of subsidised sugar under the scheme, ensuring its supply only to the poor and deserving people.

Mr Ashraf appreciated the scheme announced by the chief minister and said the millers would fully cooperate with the government.

bikes: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Friday gave away new motorcycles to another 50 people affected in the Feb 14 violence and said protecting the life and property of the masses was the top priority of the government which it had amply fulfilled.

It was up to the people to open their businesses or close them but the government had to avert unrest at any cost, he said after giving away keys of motorcycles at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

He had given 25 motorcycles last week. As many as 102 motorcycles were burnt during the violent protests against the blasphemous caricatures on Feb 14.

The chief minister said the remaining owners would also be given new vehicles shortly.

He said the government shared the sentiments of the Ummah and people in Pakistan on the publication of the blasphemous cartoons. The caricatures had hurt the feelings of every Muslim and “we do fully condemn their publication.”

The federal government had raised the issue at the OIC level. The president too highlighted it in the UN General Assembly.

But, the chief minister said, certain elements’ attempts to secure political gains under the garb of the protests against the caricatures was regrettable. He questioned the burning of banks and damaging public or private property in the name of protests.

Those trying to get political mileage on the basis of the blasphemy would not be permitted to advance their nefarious designs. These elements had some other agenda. “No Muslim could tolerate blasphemy of the holy Prophet and is it sane to burn one’s own house in the name of protest on any issue,” he asked.

The chief minister said what was the fault of those people whose motorcycles were burnt. Their only fault was that they were performing duty in their offices.

He said the government had announced compensation to all those who had suffered the loss and it was now fulfilling the promise.

Lahore nazim Mian Amer Mahmood said the best available motorcycles had been given to the affected people.

The government had allowed a procession on the issue of the caricatures after an agreement with the political parties. But these political elements created a law and order situation in violation of the agreement, burning offices and vehicles of people, and attacking banks.