KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Thursday announced a Rs 2 billion Ramazan relief package whereby atta will be supplied throughout the Province at Rs 10 per Kg as against Rs 30 and above per Kg it is available at present.

He made the announcement at a crowded press conference at Chief Minister House.

Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri, Advisor to Chief Minister Rashid Rabbani and Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that Flour Mill owners have guaranteed to open four atta sale centres by each of them. He said there are 171 flourmills in Sindh and 71 in Karachi.

If need felt, more centres could be opened to meet public demand for atta during the entire month of Ramazan, he stated.

The Chief Minister informed that in order to check hoarding or sale of atta at excess price, teams of DDOs and ADOs who have been entrusted with magisterial powers under permission from High Court, have been formed.

These Teams will carry out raids under supervision of DCOs and EDOs (Revenue) and catch the black-marketers.

He said that not only atta, these teams will also check prices of other essential items as well for which prices have been fixed.

Qaim Ali Shah said all the shopkeepers have been specifically directed to display price lists conspicuously at their outlets or else action will be taken in case of default.

These teams, he pointed out, would submit their reports on daily basis and reviewed by the Government. He informed that these teams would operate in city areas on rotation basis.

He pointed out that this relief package was conceived after great consultation because present is the government of the people who have given PPP a big mandate and it is our responsibility to pay attention on their condition.

He recalled that it too had remained the commitment of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto with the people to solve their problems.

Replying a question, the Chief Minister said that this subsidized atta will not be sold in wholesale. However, there will be no exception for hotels and tandoorwalas who can also buy this atta but have to sell the "roti" on reduced price or else they will face action under Price Control Act.

Answering another question, the Chief Minister said that this subsidy is only for atta while for sugar the federal government has already fixed the price at Rs 50 per Kg.

In Sindh, he told the questioner, talks will be held with sugar mill owners and he hopes that sugar would also be available here at still a reduced price.

To another question, he said, the government will ensure that this highly subsidized atta is not smuggled out to other provinces where atta price is higher. For this purpose a check will be kept at the borders.LINK