Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Approves Rs 10bn Subsidy to Lower Flour Prices

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has formally approved a massive Rs 10 billion subsidy package aimed at making wheat flour available to the public at discounted rates across the province. The decisive move comes as the provincial administration takes stern notice of unjustified price spikes in basic food commodities, signaling an aggressive push to shield vulnerable households from mounting inflationary pressures.

Presiding over an emergency video conference with administrative officials and district heads, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed severe displeasure over the artificial escalation in flour and wheat rates. She directed regulatory authorities and food departments to launch immediate, high-powered inspections across markets, reiterating that artificial inflation, hoarding, and unauthorized profiteering by millers or traders would be met with zero tolerance and swift legal action.

The newly sanctioned relief package comes on the heels of recently announced provincial fuel subsidies, highlighting the administration’s broader economic strategy to deliver targeted social welfare. Rising food inflation in recent months has placed an acute financial strain on low- and middle-income families across Pakistan. Officials emphasize that stabilizing the price of staple food items remains a top priority to ensure food security and maintain economic stability in Punjab.

Following the chief minister’s directive, district administration teams have been deployed to monitor flour mills, supply chains, and retail markets to guarantee compliance with official price ceilings. Government monitoring bodies will submit daily reports regarding stock availability and market enforcement, ensuring that the benefits of the Rs 10 billion relief package reach consumers directly without operational bottlenecks.