Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi alleges 20 billion Rs. Fraud in PM ‘Free Atta Scheme’

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and former prime minister, has accused the government of corruption worth Rs. 20 billion during the free flour distribution program that took place during Ramadan. Speaking at a seminar in Lahore’s Government College University, Abbasi criticised the current system, saying that service delivery was not possible under it. He cited the free flour distribution program as an example, stating that despite Rs. 84 billion worth of flour being distributed, only Rs. 64 billion worth was received by the poor. Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb responded to the allegations, stating that free flour was distributed with full transparency and honesty to millions of poor people in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Islamabad. The caretaker government in Punjab also dismissed Abbasi’s claims, describing them as “false and fabricated.”

مفت آٹا سکیم کی شفافیت کی تعریف تو مخالفین بھی کرتے رہے ہیں۔ یہ سکیم عوام کی سہولت کے لئے دیانت داری اور امانت داری کے ساتھ چلتی رہی ہے۔ کسی قسم کی بد عنوانی کا سوال ہی پیدا نہیں ہوتا۔ کل سیمینار میں کی جانے والی گفتگو حقائق کے بر عکس تھی اور حقیقت پر مبنی نہیں تھی۔ https://t.co/dnqEl2KyzT

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) April 30, 2023