LAHORE, Dec 22: Wheat supply to flour millers under an open policy has stabilised the flour price in the province where the campaign against hoarders and profiteers has also been intensified, says Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.

The chief minister, at a meeting held to review implementation of a Sasta Ration Scheme at his secretariat on Friday, said the scheme was being implemented successfully in the province, benefiting one million deserving families. Under the scheme for which the government was paying a subsidy of Rs2 billion, flour, sugar and pulses were being provided to such families at economical rates.

He said the government was giving a monthly subsidy of Rs172 per family under the scheme and enlisted families were getting wheat Rs28, and sugar and pulses Rs10 less than their actual per kg rates from the open market.

He said the scheme was being implemented through district coordination officers in a manner that only deserving people could be benefited through it.

He said action was being taken against profiteers, adulterators and hoarders by activating monitoring teams working under special magistrates. District governments and nazimeen were playing an active role in controlling prices of essential items.

He said a decision to provide 200,000 tonnes of wheat to poultry feed mills had also been implemented to help produce good quality feed for the poultry sector.

Food Minister Hussain Jahanian Gardezi said the Sassta Ration Scheme was giving a lot of relief to the people and under the scheme enlisted people were given a subsidy of Rs80 million in August, September and October.