Under Provincial Chief Minister's 'Sasta Ata Programme' 28 sale centres have been established in Sialkot district, said District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Captain Zahid Saeed (Retd).
Talking to Business Recorder here on Monday he disclosed that about 17,362 Ata bags would be distributed among the 8,661 families every month in Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur tehsils of the district.
The DCO Sialkot said that local Zakat committees would issue the coupons to the deserving families on which they can purchase Ata bag at Rs 170 from their concerned sale centres.
Meanwhile, Provincial Industries and Investment Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema inaugurated the Sasta Ata Programme in Sialkot district.
He said that present government is making all efforts for providing articles of daily use to the deserving and poor people, adding that the initiating of Sasta Ata scheme is first step of the government in the Punjab.
Under the programme thousands of deserving poor families would be benefited and 20-Kg Ata bag would be sold at Rs 170 at sale centres, he stated.
The Industries Minister said that government would provide Rs 30 per bag as subsidy to the owners of Punjab flourmills adding that under the programme each family can purchase Ata bags twice in a month.
Muhammad Ajmal Cheema directed the district administration that distribution of Ata should be made crystal clear for the benefit of only genuine families.
Later, the Minster distributed Ata bags among one hundred families.