Gilgit: The provincial education minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Ghulam Shahzad Agha, has stated that the subsidy on wheat for the people of the region is a gift from the leader of the people, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He dismissed unsubstantiated reports about discrepancies in the subsidy and affirmed that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will play a full role in adjusting the subsidy according to the needs of the region.
Minister Agha clarified that a subsidy does not mean freezing prices; rather, it is based on the increase in prices of essential commodities. However, keeping the wheat prices frozen in Gilgit-Baltistan led to a surge in black marketing, hoarding, and smuggling. Due to significant differences between buying and selling prices, the provincial government faced difficulties in the transparent and equitable distribution and transportation of wheat, posing a threat of a food crisis in the coming months.
He further mentioned that despite pressure for visible increases in prices, the provincial government, in consultation with all stakeholders and in accordance with public opinion, has set reasonable prices to ensure that the common man is not adversely affected. Serious measures are being taken to increase the supply and quantity of standard wheat for the people.
The provincial minister asserted that the PPP would not compromise on public rights, but elements conspiring against public rights would not succeed in their manipulative tactics. He emphasized that they are fully aware of public interests and will not succumb to pressure groups’ blackmail. Concrete measures are being implemented in the food department to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted supply of wheat for Gilgit-Baltistan. Positive results are expected from these reforms, and a sustainable solution to the wheat issue will be sought.
