Punjab: Tandoor-owners to be provided Rs 28 billion subsidy

[Naveed Yaseen]

ASMA RAZAQ
ISLAMABAD (October 05 2008): The Punjab government has decided to provide Rs 28 billion subsidy for selling flour to Tandoor-owwners at Rs 250 per 20 kg bag The provincial government has increased price of wheat by Rs 40 per maund. According to sources, the government has started releasing wheat to the flourmills at Rs 730 per 40 kg, while earlier the price was Rs 720 to 725 per 40 kg.

"The government of Punjab will save Rs 330 million per annum through increase in price of wheat being released to the flourmills," the sources added. They said that the retail price of 20 kg bag is fixed at Rs 420 after Ramazan.

"During the holy month of Ramazan, flour was being sold at Rs 300 per 20 kg. In this regard, the government had been providing Rs 1.60 billion subsidy," sources disclosed.

They said that 62,000 of 20 kg flour bags have been distributed among the registered Tandoor-owners just to make them sell 'roti' at Rs 2. The price of wheat in international market is on decline and it is being sold at 307 dollars per ton against 320 dollars, previously.

Last year during the corresponding period, wheat price was 351 dollars per ton. The country has imported wheat worth 90 million dollars during the first two months of current fiscal. On the other hand, in Balochistan and NWFP, flour is being sold at Rs 630 per 20 kg bag, while the government has supplied 20 kg subsidised flour bags to be sold at Rs 250 just to 1400 registered Tandoor-owners despite the fact that there are almost 4000 such outlets in these two provinces.

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