BAJAUR: The Al-Khidmat Foundation (AKF) on Sunday launched sasti roti and sasta salan (cheaper bread and cooked food) scheme in Bajaur tribal district aimed at providing relief to the poor families in Ramazan.

The sasti roti scheme was launched in Khar, while the sasta salan initiative was launched in Inayat Kallay Bazaar, according to a statement issued by the foundation’s press secretary.

Speaking at a ceremony held in Khar, Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Haji Sardar Khan, foundation’s district president Sherzada Qasir and others said the sasti roti initiative was meant to provide relief to the needy people amid high inflation. They said bread at cheaper rates would be handed out to hundreds of poor families at Iftar and Sehr.

Addressing a function in Inayat Kallay Bazaar, the Jamaat and AKF leaders said quality cooked food would be provided to the poor families during the fasting month.

PROTEST: The residents of several localities of Khar tehsil on Sunday blocked the Bajaur-Mardan Road to protest delay in launch of the government’s free wheat flour distribution.

The protesters chanted slogans against the district administration and the food department. They asked the deputy commissioner and the district food controller to order launch of the flour distribution process without delay.

Later, the protesters dispersed after a team of district administration officials met them and assured to launch the flour distribution process till Tuesday.

Separately, the district administration arrested a dealer and sealed his shop for selling the government’s free flour bags in the market in Sadiqabad area, a statement issued on Sunday said. The dealer was arrested during a visit conducted by assistant commissioner, Khar, Muhibullah Khan Yousafzai.

The statement said the official recovered 358 bags of wheat flour from the trader’s store.

The dealer was shifted to the local police station, where a case was registered against him.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2023