LAHORE: Zulfikar Ali Badr, spokesperson for Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has expressed concerns at the way adopted by the caretaker Punjab government for distribution of free atta (wheat flour) among the masses.

“The caretaker government is implementing a good project through a flawed procedure leading to deaths of free atta seekers during stampede,” Mr Badr said in a statement here on Wednesday.

He urged the government to devise an effective and respectable method for the distribution of free atta instead of hurting ego of the masses through a flawed system.

Meanwhile, the PPP has formed a district election committee to help and guide hopefuls of the party for 30 Punjab Assembly seats from Lahore polls to be held on April 30.

A consultative meeting chaired by Lahore division president Aslam Gill discussed position of the nominees for all the 30 constituencies.

Mr Gill directed that the candidates should hoist their election publicity material along all major city roads and in intersections for a vigorous electioneering.

In the meantime, two PML-N leaders from Shakargarh, Narowal, joined the PPP after a meeting with the latter’s acting Punjab president Rana Farooq Saeed here.

Tariq Manzoor advocate and Muhammad Younas advocate were persuaded by Azizur Rehman Chan to join the PPP.

2.7m bags: The Punjab government claimed on Wednesday to have distributed 2.7 million bags of flour among the deserving people across the province.

The free flour distribution is continued under the Ramazan package and Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman is visiting various districts to review the arrangements in this regard.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2023