LAHORE: The Punjab government’s ambitious initiative to provide free flour to millions of deserving families during Ramadan has come to a close, with the scheme being claimed as a success. However, the initiative was not without its challenges. Several people, including women, lost their lives while attempting to collect the free flour bag across Punjab.
Also read: Another woman dies in struggle for free flour
According to information gathered by MM News, the caretaker government claims that during the scheme, which was part of the Ramadan Relief Package, 41 million flour bags of 10 kilograms each were distributed, costing a whopping Rs53 billion. Unfortunately, the scheme was also marred by allegations of corruption.
Also read: Third citizen dies at flour distribution point in two days
During the course of free flour distribution, Police have arrested several people involved in fraudulent activities related to the free flour scheme. In Quaid-e-Azam Stadium’s flour distribution point in Burewala, a gang of three fraudsters was caught using fake tokens to obtain free flour bags. In Faisalabad, three people were also arrested on the charge of obtaining free flour using fake tokens.
Also read: 2 women die, 45 injured in stampede at Sahiwal flour distribution point
In another incident, police intercepted a rickshaw near Chak No 452-GB and seized 21 bags of free flour. The driver, Abdur Razzaq, who was transporting them to various hotels for sale, was arrested along with a Baildar of the Agriculture Department.
In Chinniot, police have registered a case against 11 people, including a revenue patwari, for embezzling 8,000 flour bags.
Despite the allegations of corruption and fraudulent activities, a Punjab government spokesperson has claimed that the free flour bag scheme benefited 31 million deserving families across the province.
