LAHORE, Oct 24: The Punjab Flour Mills Association (PFMA) on Friday announced that it would provide 30,000 bags of 20kg each at the rate of Rs160 throughout the province during Ramazan.

Speaking at a press conference, the millers said flour was being sold at the rate of Rs205 to 210 per 20kg. They decided to bring the price down to Rs195 per 20kg. The reduction would cost the millers Rs30 million. The association would also bear a loss of Rs10 million on account of transportation.

In addition to this price cut, the government of Punjab has also provided Rs100 million, subsidizing the price by Rs35 per bag and bringing the price down to Rs160. These 30,000 bags would be available to the common man at points designated by the food department and the district governments.

The millers, they claimed, had further decided to reduce the price across the board by Rs3 per 20kg and Rs12 per 80kg bag. In all, the PFMA would be matching the official subsidy of Rs100 million with Rs80 million of its own, they claimed.

The provincial food department has been providing 11,000 tons of wheat daily against the total grinding capacity of 17,000 tons. But, it has promised to increase the quantity to 13,000 tons during Ramazan. This would provide some relief to the common man and the millers, they said. All regions in the province have been told to ensure strict implementation of the policy, they claimed.