ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed officials to give the poor two bags of wheat flour free of cost and remove hurdles in getting their identity cards verified at the distribution centres.

The decision to give two flour bags instead of one was taken “so that the people do not need to visit the distribution centres frequently,” the Prime Minister’s Office quoted Mr Sharif as saying during a visit to a flour distribution centre in Islamabad.

He asked the relevant authorities to chalk out a plan for citizens who could only present the photocopy of their computerised national identity cards (CNIC) if the original one was missing. He also directed officials to prioritise older people and women during flour distribution.

The premier, along with Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, visited several flour distribution points in the federal capital on Friday and interacted with people waiting to receive flour. He expressed satisfaction over the seating arrangement to avoid making people stand in long queues.

Later, Prime Minister Sharif said in a tweet that efforts to develop the Teleschool Pakistan app “are now bearing fruit”.

“Students’ keen interest is evidenced by more than 10,000 downloads in 310 cities, 5,500 enrolments and viewing of 17,000 videos in just a week. Dream of #TaleemGharGhar is on its way to becoming a reality,” he said.

UAE delegation

Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al Maktoum, chairman of Hayat Bio-Tech and a member of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates, called on Prime Minister Sharif along with a delegation.

The prime minister said brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE were deep-rooted in history and underlined that Pakistan attached great importance to expanding brotherly ties with the emirates in trade and investment.

The prime minister welcomed the keen interest of Hayat Bio-Tech to invest in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector, especially in vaccine manufacturing. He also invited the delegation to invest in the renewable energy sector.

Sheikh Maktoum said they were aware of the huge investment potential of Pakistan and the UAE was looking forward to expanding its footprint in the energy and health sectors.

He also informed the premier about the company’s ongoing 1,200-megawatt power project in collaboration with the Sindh government. It would be a hybrid power plant, using both solar and wind energy.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2023