LAHORE, July 20: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Rs22 billion Food Stamp Scheme is being launched from Aug 14 for the people living below the poverty line in the province and 1.8 to two million families will benefit from it.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting regarding the scheme at Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Sunday, says a handout. He said the scheme would be made transparent so that only deserving people could benefit from it. All DCOs would be responsible in this regard.

Punjab Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Food Minister Nadeem Kamran, the Punjab chief secretary, besides MPAs and other high-ranking officials were also present.

The meeting reviewed the steps with regard to implementation of the food scheme.