Lahore: Authorities in Pakistan's Punjab province said that at least 11 people, including women, had recently perished while attempting to obtain free wheat from official distribution points. According to reports, countless individuals went to government distribution centres after Pakistan's cash-strapped government launched a free flour programme for the underprivileged, particularly in Punjab province, to combat the country's increasing inflation.
The plan attempts to quell Imran Khan, leader of the PTI, from becoming too well-liked. In stampedes at free flour distribution sites in the south Punjabi districts of Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, and Okara, two elderly women and a man died and 60 others were hurt. Fasailabad, Jehaniyan, and Multan are the other districts where fatalities have been reported.
Police have been blamed for causing mayhem at the centres by manhandling and baton-charging the citizens waiting in long queues to get free flour. Security forces also resorted to a heavy-handed approach following the looting of free flour trucks in Muzaffarghar and Rahim Yar Khan cities. Punjab caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi announced the opening of free flour centres throughout the province to reduce overcrowding. In a meeting held at the CM’s office, it was decided that provincial ministers and secretaries will visit flour centres over the next three days and assess the situation.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan criticised the PML-N administration for its poor management of the free flour centres and blamed PM Shehbaz Sharif and Naqvi for the fatalities. According to Imran, the "government of thieves" has made life so unpleasant that people will do everything to get their hands on a sack of flour.