Gilgit (PR) In a statement issued to the media on Monday, the Special Assistant for Irrigation and Water Management to the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Hussain Shah has said that the timely an appropriate increase in wheat prices has successfully averted the risk of a food crisis in G-B.
According to the statement, the provincial government has reversed its decision to raise the wheat price to Rs 52 per kg after consulting with all stakeholders. The revised price is now set at Rs 36 per kg, ensuring that a minimal inflationary burden is imposed on the public.
Government is providing an 80 percent subsidy on wheat as it receives only 20 percent of the purchase price from consumers, said the statement.
In his statement, Hussain Shah has vowed to ensure equitable and transparent distribution of subsidized wheat and flour, the food department is set to undergo reforms soon. Similarly, a strategy is underway to provide people with quality flour through the implementation of a biometric system.
The Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan has emphasized that the government prioritizes the collective interest of Gilgit-Baltistan over engaging in negative politics concerning public matters.
He has further stated that the government will play a role to secure an enhanced wheat subsidy from the federation, the inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan in the NFC award, assistance in boosting food grain production, and the development of a financial formula for the annual budget on the same footings of other provinces.
