PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan has tasked special branch of police to monitor distribution of free wheat flour across the province following registration of complaints by people regarding mismanagement in the process.

He also ordered an inquiry into a clash between police and people in Hayatabad during distribution of free flour. Police fired tear gas shells at a crowd after it tried to force its way into a Hayatabad sports stadium to receive free wheat flour under Ramazan Relief Package on April 1.

The orders were issued by the chief minister while chairing a meeting here on Wednesday to review progress on the distribution of free wheat flour among the deserving families of the province under Ramzan Relief Package.

Mr Khan directed the special branch of police to monitor the process at flour distribution points throughout the province and report malpractices to the relevant district administration. He also directed the authorities concerned to take action immediately on the reports, lodge cases and arrest the culprits immediately.

Besides Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, the meeting was attended by relevant administrative secretaries, senior police officials, Peshawar commissioner and quarters concerned. The meeting reviewed matters related to distribution of free wheat flour to make the process more organised and transparent.

“Free of cost wheat flour is meant for the deserving households,” a statement issued here quoted the chief minister as saying.

Mr Khan directed the relevant quarters to take necessary measures to ensure the predetermined quality of the free flour being provided to the deserving families. He said that food inspectors should regularly visit the flour mills to check quality of the flour so that action could be taken against the mill owners for supplying substandard flour to people.

The chief minister also expressed concerns over the unpleasant incidents occurred during the distribution of free flour. He directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to distribute the flour in an organised manner.

The meeting was told that 57 per cent of the targeted population had received free flour and the target would be achieved before the end of Ramzan. The meeting was also informed that distribution points were increased that resulted in considerable decrease in the number of unpleasant incidents during the distribution process.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2023