An urgent need for subsidized food items in Balochistan
Editorial:
The Balochistan government needs to announce a Ramazan package to support the middle, poor and downtrodden segments of the society. In a bid to provide some relief to the common man, the Chief Minister Jam Kamal led government needs to announce a ‘targeted subsidy’ package for the poor ahead of the holy month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
Recent inflation and sky-rocketing prices of commodities have deprived people of purchasing food items. Simply, the poor segment of society lost the power to purchase.
Fortunate are government servants getting regular salaries
Fortunate are government servants, businessmen, and of course the upper class who have the power to purchase commodities. The common man remained the worst sufferer of increasing prices of food items.
At least the government should announce an immediate relief package for the poor people and provide pulses, sugar, flour, ghee, tea, etc at reasonable prices. The government needs to translate its words into action when it comes to giving relief to the common man.
CS Balochistan chairs a meeting
Chief Secretary Balochistan, Mathar Niaz Rana chaired a meeting on Sunday that reviewed the Ramazan package. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Rana said utility stores would provide commodities at reasonable prices to the masses during the holy month of Ramazan.
He directed the deputy commissioners to run mobile stores to make sure provision of commodities to the masses. “DCs should personally monitor this”, he said. Provincial secretaries, commissioner Quetta division and other concerned quarters participated in the meeting.
Relief beyond official meetings
Such initiatives should go beyond official meetings rather the government should announce a special Ramazan package. Although, the Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan has announced a relief package. Balochistan does not get its due share in the package.
In utility stores, most influential people manage to get the subsidized items. Very fortunate manage to purchase food items on subsidized items.
Black marketing of subsidized items from utility stores is no more secret. To be precise, Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan should announce a ‘targeted subsidy’ package for the poor people of Balochistan on the eve of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
