People in Punjab, KP to be given free flour: PM

F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday said needy persons in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be given the gift of free flour in the month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
Speaking at a meeting held here to review arrangements for the provision of flour to needy persons, he said for the first time in the history of the country, a package had been prepared for the provision of free flour to poor people in the month of Ramazan. He said no negligence would be tolerated regarding the quality of flour to be provided to the citizens.
The prime minister said the government was making all efforts to provide relief to the poor and middle class. It was told that in Punjab, 15.8 million households would be provided free flour during Ramazan while free flour would also be provided in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The needy persons can know about their eligibility for a gift of flour by sending their identity card number on SMS 8171 assigned by Benazir Income Support Programme. It was further told that flour would be available on less rates in 50 Sasta Bazaars in Balochistan. Advisor to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Syed Mohsin Naqvi, chief secretaries of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and Managing Director of Utility Stores Corporation attended the meeting.
In order to avoid any inconvenience, the people have been asked to check their eligibility for the free flour by sending an SMS containing their CNIC number to 8717 helpline of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) as the data has been linked with the BISP. As per the criteria, the families registered with the BISP and having a poverty score of 60 or lesser would be eligible to avail the facility.
Shehbaz acknowledges services of school teacher who coined name of Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday acknowledged the services, on national level, of Qazi Abdur Rehman Amritsari, who had proposed the name of the Federal Capital as Islamabad.
In recognition of his services and on recommendations of Capital Development Authority (CDA), he awarded the allotment letter of a residential plot in Park Enclave to the heirs of late Abdur Rehman. The prime minister has fulfilled the Government of Pakistan’s promise of acknowledging the services of late Qazi Abdur Rehman Amritsari, said a press release.
He said the services of Qazi Abdul Rehman Amritsari for Pakistan could not be ignored. He said the nation paid tribute to the school teacher Qazi Abdul Rehman who gave an identity to Islamabad. PM Shehbaz Sharif also directed the CDA authorities to complete all the formalities and provide possession of the plot to the heirs of Qazi Abdur Rehman. He eulogized media, specially anchor person Hamid Mir, for highlighting the issue. The prime minister also lauded the efforts of CDA chairman Noor ul Amin in this regard.