TAXILA: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Saturday said the government was committed to providing relief to vulnerable sections of society as well as curbing illegal profiteering and hoarding.

He expressed these views during his visit to Ramazan bazaar Hassanabdal.

Officials of district administration and municipal committee were also present on this occasion.

He said providing relief to the people is the number one priority of the government.

He said his government would try to give special relief to low income individuals and poverty stricken families. He said the Punjab government had started preparing a special package to provide subsidy on selected essential commodities including flour, sugar and vegetables to provide maximum relief to the people during Ramazan.

He said all possible steps would be taken to provide maximum relief to the common man.

On this occasion, he directed the officials of the local administration that best arrangements should be made in the Ramadan bazaars to provide relief to the consumers.

He also directed the officers to use modern technology for monitoring the Ramazan bazaars while special measures should be taken for the implementation of coronavirus SOPs in the Ramazan bazaars.

Later during a surprise visit to the utility store outlet in the city, Mr Amin said that the government had given Rs7.9 billion subsidy on 19 essential items under ‘Ramazan Relief Package-2021’.

He said that under the package, subsidy had been given on various items, including wheat flour, sugar and ghee.

He said 313 Ramazan bazaars had been set up across the province where a 10-kg bag of flour was available at Rs 375 while sugar was available at Rs65 per kg.

Responding to a question about paucity of facilities and staff at tehsil headquarters hospital, especially surgeon, he said he would soon visit the health facility and acquaint himself about the missing facilities in the hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2021