LAHORE: Punjab is awaiting the federal government decision on target subsidy model before going to fix rate of wheat to be released to flour millers from official storages.

“We are still waiting for directions from the federal authorities about the mode and amount of targeted subsidy to be offered to the poor consumers before fixing the issue price of wheat for flour millers,” a senior food official told Dawn on Tuesday.

He said Dr Sania Nishtar, the special assistant to prime minister on poverty alleviation, is working on a model for the provision of targeted subsidy to the poor and its modalities have not yet been shared with the provincial government.

“There are various proposals under consideration, including issuing a card like Kisan card for offering cash, instead of a blanket subsidy the food department has so far been offering to all and sundry by providing subsidised wheat to flour millers.”

Replying to a question about the demand by millers for release of wheat from official storages, he said only those were asking for it whose mills wholly depend on the issuance of official subsidised grain, while others were just curious to know the price of the official releases so that they would not purchase the commodity from the open market at higher rates.

The official said the millers were still holding at least 0.9 million tonnes of grain sufficient for at least one month of requirements of Punjab.

He said retaining wheat was not an option for his department because it meant increase in the incidental charges but they also had to keep in mind that ensuring availability of grain in the last month before arrival of the new crop was very crucial when the commodity would go missing from the open market. Panic buying in such an event would further deteriorate the situation and blemish goodwill of the authorities, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Large projects again?
Updated 03 Jun, 2024

Large projects again?

Government must focus on debt sustainability by curtailing its spending and mobilising more resources.
Local power
03 Jun, 2024

Local power

A SIGNIFICANT policy paper was recently debated at an HRCP gathering, calling for the constitutional protection of...
Child-friendly courts
03 Jun, 2024

Child-friendly courts

IN a country where the child rights debate has been a belated one, it is heartening to note that a recent Supreme...
Dutch courage
Updated 02 Jun, 2024

Dutch courage

ECP has been supported wholeheartedly in implementing twisted interpretations of democratic process by some willing collaborators in the legislature.
New World cricket
02 Jun, 2024

New World cricket

HAVING finished as semi-finalists and runners-up in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup in familiar ...
Dead on arrival?
02 Jun, 2024

Dead on arrival?

Whatever the motivations for Gaza peace plan, it is difficult to see the scheme succeeding.