BAHAWALPUR/DERA GHAZI KHAN: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has claimed that there is neither any pressure group nor forward bloc in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ranks.

Talking to the media here during his visit on Thursday, the chief minister said all the PTI lawmakers in Punjab were united under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and as such he or his government didn’t face any challenge. He claimed there was no flour crisis or sugar shortage in the province.

The chief minister reached here on Wednesday night after completing his visit to Balochistan and had an overnight stay at Bahawalpur circuit house.

Regarding the [reported] shortage of flour and sugar, the chief minister said: “Flour is available at the rate of Rs805 per 20 kilogram bag at sale points. However, there can be some mismanagement with regard to the distribution of atta. Now I, [minister for industries] Aslam Iqbal and [food minister] Samiullah Chaudhry are monitoring the situation.”

He hinted at disciplinary action against responsible officials of the administration for the [alleged] mismanagement in flour distribution.

Denies flour crisis or sugar shortage

According to eyewitnesses, the chief minister during his surprise visit to a flour sale point at Khatm-i-Nubuwat Chowk asked the shopkeepers and [passing] rickshaw drivers about the shortage of flour in the open market. The traders and other people present there told the CM that atta was available in ‘adequate’ quantity in the open market here.

Earlier, the chief minister paid a visit to the thalassemia and bone marrow transplant centre of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) where Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Principal Quaid-i-Azam Medical college (QAMC) Prof. Dr Fayyaz Ahmed briefed him about the establishment of the ward for which a sum of Rs230 million had been spent and more funds were required to make its completely operational.

At this the chief minister announced that the Punjab government would soon provide Rs900 million for the ward in order to make it completely functional during next year.

During inspection of the ward, patient Amna Mehmood, a matric student, requested the chief minister that she wanted to continue her studies but her family faced financial difficulties. The chief minister announced that the government would bear her educational expenses and directed his [accompanied] officials to complete all formalities to the effect.

Buzdar assured newsmen of developing a journalists colony in the city and providing Insaf health cards to them.

Later, the chief minister went to his native city Dera Ghazi Khan, himself driving twin cabin jeep without any protocol.

He inspected development work on Sangam Chowk as well as cleaning process of Manika Canal.

Talking to the media at his residence, he said rumours of change were only conspiracies of rivals.

Responding to a query about financial crisis of Dera Ghazi Khan divisional public school and vacant key posts at board of intermediate and secondary education, the CM said he would visit DPS during his next trip.

To another query, he said the Punjab government was not ignoring any area of the province regarding development and it would accomplish all projects being executed in the district.

Buzdar met with notables at his residence before departing for Lahore.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020