MANSEHRA: The local body representatives on Friday demanded of the government to increase the quota of subsidised wheat flour in line with the needs of the residents.

Chairman of the Shergar village council Ijaz Ahmad told reporters that record inflation had squeezed the people’s purchasing power, so more subsidised flour should be supplied to union councils to the relief of the residents.

“We want the government to double flour quota for each union council to the benefit of all residents,” he said.

Chairman of the Balian village council Anwarul Islam criticised the government over “failure” to control the prices of essential commodities.

He said the people struggled to make ends meet.

Mr Islam also demanded an immediate increase in subsidised flour’s quota for union councils in the district.

Chairman of the Dilborivillage council Ziaur Rehman said both quality and quantity of subsidised flour were not up to the mark, so the food department should check mills for the issue.

He said flour prices would plunge if the quota doubled.

Mr Rehman also demanded strict price control to the relief of the residents.

Meanwhile, the Local Government Employees Union on Friday demanded of the government to address the salary and pension issues facing employees of defunct district councils.

“The government, after the abolition of district councils, shifted their employees to the respective tehsil municipal administrations but they continue to be without salary and pension payments,” president of the Local Government Employees Union Mohammad Hussain Tanoli told reporters in Oghi tehsil here.

Mr Tanoli also complained that each defunct council in Hazara division had Rs110 million funds but the money had yet to be transferred to TMAs.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2023