Mian Aslam chaired a meeting to finalize Insaf Ration Card Program

Provincial Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal presided over a meeting at Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday to review proposals for finalizing additional agri fair-price shops and Insaf Ration Card Program.

Addressing the meeting, Mian Aslam Iqbal reiterated that Punjab government has chalked out different programs to facilitate the impecunious strata. Insaf Ration Card Scheme is being given final shape to help the poorest of the poor, he added. Under Insaf Ration Support Program, the most poor will be given the facility of buying ration worth Rs 3000 every month. Shops will be registered for this program where purchase of items could be made through Insaf Ration Cards, he added. Meanwhile, number of agri fair-price shops is being increased and shops’ registration will be done through the urban unit. He added that shopkeeper will be given 30 thousand rupees every month along with one lac rupees interest-free loan to buy things and sell the essential items at fixed rates.

Mian Aslam Iqbal said that pilot project will be started from Samanabad Town and three thousand fair-price shops will be set up in the first phase. This program will be expanded to the level of division in the province and electronic price boards will be installed at agri fair-price shops to inform the consumers about the prices of different items. The minister directed that pushcarts and loader rickshaws should also be included in this scheme to provide relief to the people living in narrow streets. The government is going to introduce a system of model bazaars and fair-price shops and there would be no need of holding Ramzan bazaars. The urban unit has been activated to monitor the prices of essential items. The poor segments of the society will be fully facilitated through such schemes, concluded the minister. Additional Secretary Industries, DG Industries and representatives of different departments attended the meeting.