LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to discontinue the sale of 20-kilogram flour bags and allow only 10kg packs in the market as part of efforts to improve supply management and curb the illegal transportation of wheat and flour.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The government aims to tighten control over the movement of wheat and flour, with the chief minister directing authorities to strictly monitor inter-provincial borders to prevent smuggling.
The move comes alongside measures to improve wheat production and ensure better management of food supplies across the province. Ms Nawaz directed all deputy commissioners to meet wheat sowing targets in their districts and ensure that government-owned land was brought under cultivation.
The targeted land includes areas under the numberdar system, the Ghori Pal scheme and the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” programme.
The government is also preparing for Ramazan by directing district administrations to stock bananas, apples and dates at controlled prices. Deputy commissioners have been asked to ensure adequate supplies based on local demand and cold storage capacity.
Officials presented a comparative review of prices of 15 essential food items, including vegetables, pulses and other commodities.
ALSO READ PKR rates today against dollar, pound, euro and Gulf currencies
The meeting approved a project titled “Transforming Market Waste into Wealth” to make better use of market waste. It also approved a dehydration project under the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority (PAMRA) to improve the availability of off-season fruits and vegetables.
Ms Nawaz directed officials to expedite work on Punjab’s first Mandi Mart for fruits and vegetables at Kahna and take steps to establish similar facilities across the province. She also called for effective regulation of the sale of open milk.
The government says these measures are intended to improve food supplies, stabilise prices, increase agricultural production and prevent the illegal movement of wheat and flour. However, the official announcement did not specify when the new flour packaging policy would take effect or explain how restricting bag sizes would directly reduce smuggling.
