LAHORE, Sept 3: In the backdrop of the criticism the Shahbaz government had to face in its previous tenure on sasti roti scheme, this time it is formulating a strategy for targeted food subsidy for the poor.

“A cabinet committee along with professionals is working on devising a strategy so that the deserving could be benefited from government subsidy in the provision of ata (wheat flour) and roti and the same will be announced in a couple of days,” Punjab law and local bodies minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a press conference here on Tuesday.

He was flanked by food minister Bilal Yasin and agriculture minister Dr Farrukh Javed.

Rana Sana said that prospects were also being explored for joint ventures with industrialists to provide subsidized flour to workers of industrial units.

He said the provincial government had also started releasing wheat to flour millers at controlled rates of Rs1330 per 40 kg to keep ata price at retail level stable.

He said a food policy had also been put in place so that the subsidy amounting to Rs18 billion could trickle down to consumers and ensure quality of wheat products.

He said presently the government had over 3.9 million ton wheat stock, around 500,000 ton over and above the provincial needs so there was no risk of wheat shortage in the province.

He told a questioner that this carryover stock could not be sold out to any province or exported as it was retained as critical reserves.

The senior minister told a questioner that the chief minister wished to give maximum subsidy for reducing flour price but the fear of smuggling of the commodity to other areas at the cost of Punjab’s resources compelled him to curtail the subsidy to Rs200 per 40kg.

Asked why the government was not targeting the farmers for reducing cost of wheat and flour by subsiding farm inputs, Dr Farrukh said a sum of Rs14.5 billion had been earmarked for the purpose. He also said that provision of a free tractor as a prize was also being introduced for small growers in a per acre yield competition.