BAJAUR/KHYBER: The Bajaur district administration on Friday arrested 10 wheat flour dealers and cancelled licences of 50 others for demanding money from beneficiaries of the government’s free flour scheme.

Deputy commissioner Anwarul Haq took the action during surprise visits to the flour distribution points in Khar, Inayat Kallay, Pashat and Yousafabad. He undertook the visits after the people had complained about being forced by dealers to pay money for getting a flour bag, according to a statement.

Mr Haq, who was accompanied by police and district administration officials, checked the flour distribution process. He cancelled the licences of 50 dealers for not maintaining transparency in the distribution process.

He also ordered arrest of 10 dealers on the spot for allegedly receiving Rs300 from each beneficiary for a 10kg flour bag.

The statement said DC Anwarul Haq also talked to people, who pointed out irregularities in the flour distribution.

DC cancels licences of another 50

Mr Haq warned the dealers of strict action if they indulged in the illegal practice in future.

Under the government’s free flour scheme for Ramazan, each family registered with the Benazir Income Suport Programme will get three bags of 10kg each during the fasting month.

In Khyber district, hundreds of poor families received free flour in different parts on Friday after some initial differences over the mode of distribution between the district administration and the Jamrud tehsil chairman.

Tribesmen in most parts of Landi Kotal, Bara and Jamrud, however, kept their women away from the distribution process, citing local traditions.

Tribal elders insisted women were mistreated during the flour distribution and thus they decided against sending them to the distribution points.

In Jamrud, the tehsil chairman had a verbal brawl with the assistant commissioner over the mode of the distribution process.

It was learnt the administration had prepared a list of distributors on the recommendations of the food department officials, which was rejected by the tehsil chairman, who insisted his recommended men should do the distribution.

The matter was later resolved through the intervention of some elders.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued in Peshawar on Friday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan directed relevant officials to take necessary measures to ensure distribution of free flour in an orderly manner.

Taking notice of some unpleasant incidents that took place during the distribution of free flour in some parts of the province, Mr Khan also directed to make it easier for the deserving families to get flour during Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2023