In a major step for relief of the lower and middle class, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday decided that the federal government would distribute wheat flour among one million residents of the federal capital, free of charge during the holy month of Ramazan. The prime minister, chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the measures for reducing the impact of inflation on the lower and middle-income classes, said the government was striving to minimise the difficulties faced by these income groups. He also invited the provincial governments of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to become part of the scheme. The prime minister instructed the authorities concerned to take advantage of modern technology to ensure transparency in the distribution of free wheat flour. The meeting was informed that as per the prime minister’s directives, a programme for supply of free wheat flour in the outskirts of Islamabad during the Holy Month of Ramazan was in final stage that would benefit around 150,000 households in the federal capital. The prime minister also, in principle, decided to provide petrol for the motorcycle and rickshaw owners on reduced rates as a programme for their relief had been designed. Different proposals were presented for provision of low-cost petrol to motorcycle and rickshaw drivers. The prime minister directed the relevant officers to finalise and submit the programme as the government would take all possible steps to protect the low and middle-income groups against inflation. The prime minister also approved the support price of the commodity at Rs8,500 per 40 kilogram. The prime minister directed to present the matter to the Economic Coordination Committee on priority. He termed cotton as the backbone of the country’s textile sector and expressed confidence that the step would support the farmers. Highlighting the importance of cotton in earning foreign exchange, Shehbaz Sharif said the government would extend every possible assistance to the provinces in this regard. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Advisor to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema, State Minister for Petroleum Dr Musaddik Malik and senior officers attended the meeting.