'300 mechanical tandoors to be installed in destitute areas'

300 mechanical tandoors would be installed in 'kachi abadies', industrial areas, labour colonies of railway stations, bus stands and hospitals by March 2011 to provide sasti roti to the poor in the province, said Chief Minister Punjab, Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, here on Tuesday.
He said a 'dasterkhawn programme' is also in the offing as public service is the best form of worship, adding that the importance of sasti roti to the workers, labourers and the poor in the present era of price-hike, cannot be denied. He was presiding over a high level meeting to review mechanical tandoors and dasterkhawn programmes.
Shahbaz said that not only the elite, but common man also has the right over national resources and mechanical tandoors and dasterkhawn programme is a part of the effort to provide sasti roti and food at reasonable rate. He mentioned that 97 mechanical tandoors and about 400 dasterkhawns are operating in different parts of the province. These tandoors would be increased to 300 by March and these would be set up only in those areas where the poor and labourers could draw its benefit, he added.
The CM directed Chairman Planning & Development and Secretary Finance to ensure annual audit of mechanical tandoors, saying services of prominent audit company Ferguson should be acquired for this purpose. Shahbaz said a consolidated programme for supply of roti at rupees two and food from dastarkhawn at reasonable rate, should be evolved while Member National Assembly, Hanif Abbasi and Haji Muhammad Nawaz should visit all divisional headquarters and evolve a comprehensive plan for installation of tandoors and setting up of dasterkhawns at suitable sites.
He further said all divisional commissioners and district co-ordination officers should extend all out assistance for this programme of public service. He also directed secretary industries and managing director, Punjab Small Industries Corporation to help in extending the programme, while secretary food should ensure supply of high quality flour for the tandoors.
Earlier, Member National Assembly Hanif Abbasi gave details of the programme of supply of sasti roti to people through mechanical tandoors. He said that the programme is successfully underway and the poor and labourers are fully benefiting from it. Haji Muhammad Nawaz deliberated on the dasterkhawn programme on the occasion. Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Food Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Members National Assembly Ayaz Amir, Mian Marghoob Ahmed, Members Provincial Assembly Hafiz Mian Nauman, Kh. Imran Nazir, Chaudhry Abdul Razzaq Dhilon, Shehryar Riaz, Haji M. Zulfiqar, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretaries of Finance, Food, Industries, Commissioner & District Co-ordination Officer Lahore and concerned officers attended the meeting.