LAHORE     -    The Punjab government has strongly protested the federal government’s alleged double standards for supplying wheat to other provinces while neglecting the needs of Punjab.  Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvaiz Elahi has expressed his indignation at the behaviour of the federal government for not providing wheat to Punjab. 

He has formally protested against this alleged discrimination and said that the Punjab government will send a protest letter to the federal government in this regard. Parvez Elahi said that the federal government was meting out a step-motherly treatment to Punjab by not providing wheat to it. “Several lakh tons of wheat have been lost due to rains and floods in Punjab and the federal government has not provided wheat despite Punjab’s request”, he regretted. 

Meanwhile, CM Parvaiz Elahi approved setting the support price of wheat at Rs.3000 per maund and hoped that this increase will give the farmers full compensation for their hard work and the area under cultivation of wheat will also be increased next year. Parvez Elahi also ordered measures to stop the smuggling of wheat and flour and said that strict monitoring of the exit routes of the province should be ensured. 

He noted that the prices of wheat and flour are low in Punjab compared to other provinces. He directed that the food department, together with the DPOs and deputy commissioners of the respective districts should tighten the checking system at the exits. Indiscriminate action should be taken against the elements involved in the smuggling of wheat, he said. The Punjab government has also decided to constitute a cabinet standing committee for wheat under the chief minister. 

Provincial Ministers Sardar Mohsin Leghari, Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak, Chief Secretary Kamran Afzal, secretaries of food, agriculture, and finance departments, former BoP president Hamish Khan and director food attended the meeting.

CM SEEKS REPORT FROM CCPO LAHORE

Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvez Elahi has sought a report from CCPO Lahore about the rape of a 10-year-old differently-abled girl in the Basti Chirag Shah area of Lahore. He has ordered the arrest of the accused and maintained that the perpetrator of the crime deserves severe punishment under the law.

CM commends Lahore police efforts in tracing the case 

Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvez Elahi has said that the efforts of the Lahore police have resulted in resolving the murder of the girl namely Maria in Sharifpura Lakhodair. 

CCPO Lahore and the investigation team have worked day and night to resolve the case scientifically. I promised to bring justice to the grieving family of the innocent girl, which I will fulfil; he said and maintained that the accused, who deserves exemplary punishment, would not escape from the grip of the law. The Punjab government has also issued instructions for the prosecution of the case, he added.