LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet on Wednesday approved implementation of the Electronic Warehouse Reset System (EWR) to facilitate the farmers to store their wheat. The government will bear the storage costs.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presided over the 25th provincial cabinet meeting.

The meeting approved an amendment to the Food Grains (Licencing Control) Ordinance, 1957, to ensure 25 per cent wheat procurement for flour mills, under which the licences of flour mills which do not purchase 25pc mandatory wheat can be cancelled.

Deregulation of the wheat sector was approved to protect the rights of farmers. It also approved Pakistan’s largest ration card for 1.5m workers and labourers. A sum of Rs10,000 per month through ration cards will be provided to them. Additional funds were approved for payment of dues for the purchase of medicines and drugs. Approval of funds was granted for the purchase of furniture and equipment for tertiary care hospitals in Punjab.

The cabinet approved the proposed amendments to the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005, under which additional sessions judges will be delegated the powers of consumer courts.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025