Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Shareef is announcing Rs. 8 billion subsidy on flour prices throughout the month of Ramadan in Punjab province. The new price of the flour will be reduced to Rs. 200 per 20 KG flour bag. That means on average Rs. 300 subsidy per 20 KG flour bag.

This offer from Punjab govt. is only for the people of Punjab that means the people of Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and even Federal Capital Islamabad will be forced to buy 20 KG flour bag at around Rs. 600. Now you can well imagine the difference, Rs. 200 in Punjab and Rs. 600 in rest of the country. This might lead to the sense of deprivation in the people of other provinces.

So I really hope the the governments of other provinces will also be announcing such reliefs. And if we analyze the offer even for Punjab only, we have witnessed such relief announcements in the past also, but the implementation on them hasn’t been all that good as was boasted off. For example, According to CM Punjab, Rotti is available at Rs. 2 throughout Punjab but the most of Rotti Shops are charging the regular prices that is Rs. 4-5 per rotti.

That means the implementation within even Punjab hasn’t been all that effective. And when only Punjab will be enjoying around Rs. 400 subsidy on per 20 KG flour, who believes it will benefit the end consumers? I really don’t believe it. All we gonna see is a large queue of people waiting for their turns to be able to buy a bag of flour.

Because in my opinion, if it isn’t enforced, the hoarders wholesalers/retailers will be largely benefiting from the offer by the help of bribing the distributors. As it has happened in the past, they will be stocking the flour bags and will be selling at their own prices. Also the people of other provinces might also start fetching the flour from Punjab so it will be like a real panic.

Therefor as a conclusion, I’d like to suggest Punjab govt. to strictly ensure the availability of the subsidized flour to the end consumers. Also, I’d suggest the other provincial governments to immediately workout a plan to offer subsidized flour in their provinces too.

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