RAWALPINDI: According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, special counters are being set up for those in need who are not registered with the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) to give them free flour bags at the distribution centers as part of the Ramadan Package.
He told the media during a visit to a free wheat flour distribution center that “a large number of people who are not registered with BISP deserve free flour bags as they are also living below the poverty line.” He claimed that the Punjab Information Technology Board and the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) accepted the challenge of including non-BISP people by coming up with a solution to the problem and creating a system that would be fully functional by today (Monday).
Under this system, he said the non-BISP deserving people would be eligible to get free flour from the separate counters after registering their names in the system. The prime minister said from tomorrow (Tuesday), the people who have not yet received any flour bag, would be provided all three bags at a time so that they would not have to travel again for the purpose. He said this was the first time in the country’s history that free flour was being provided to deserving people, therefore the administration had to face a big challenge in the beginning but the process was getting streamlined. He appreciated the Punjab government and Rawalpindi administration who were working day and night to make the distribution process smooth and uninterrupted.
“Their passion to serve the poor during fasting is praiseworthy,” he added. He also appreciated the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister and Chief Secretary in the flour distribution process. PM Shehbaz Sharif said despite huge economic challenges, the government was committed to working for the relief of the unprivileged segment of the society. He said the government was putting in full efforts to change the fate of Pakistan. He also called upon people from all walks of life to support the government in its pro-poor efforts. He said he would also pay unannounced visits to the flour distribution centres across the province to ensure smooth distribution of the bags to the people.
Earlier, prime minister met with the beneficiaries at the centre and inquire about the problems, they were facing while receiving the flour bags. The Rawalpindi Commissioner briefed the PM about the distribution process and informed that four centers were working in the city. The prime minister directed to resolve all the issues faced by the people at the earliest. He also directed to accommodate other people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan but living in the Punjab.
