BAJAUR: Provincial Minister for Zakat and Ushr Anwar Zeb Khan on Wednesday showed his dismay over decrease in the quota of subsidised wheat flour for Bajaur and vowed to make efforts for restoration of the previous wheat quota of the district.

The minister expressed his concern while talking to mediapersons during his visit to the local flour mill to know about the availability of subsidised flour.

The management of the flour mill informed him about the causes of flour shortage in the region. It was stated that an unexpected decrease in the quota of subsidised wheat by the provincial government was the main cause of the flour crisis in the region for the last few weeks.

The mill management pointed out that the quota of subsidised wheat flour which earlier stood at 208 tonnes per day had been reduced to 147 tonnes in the last week of February 2021.

The minister was told that on the one hand the decrease in the quota of subsidised wheat had created a serious shortage of flour in the region, on the other they had to face demonstrations by the people outside the flour mill.

Anwar Zeb, who belongs to Bajaur, expressed his annoyance over the major cut in the quota of subsidised wheat for the district.

Speaking on the occasion, he termed the decrease in the quota of commodity an injustice with the people of the region. He said he was shocked to know that scores of women of various areas had come out on roads to protest against the unavailability of subsidised flour in their localities several days ago.

The minister said he would take up the matter with the provincial food minister for restoration of the previous quota of subsidised wheat flour so that people could easily get the commodity.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2021