New Delhi: At least 11 people were killed in the last few days while trying to collect free flour from government distribution centres in Pakistan’s Punjab province, news agency PTI reported.
Two elderly women and a man died on Tuesday, while 60 others sustained injuries in stampedes at free flour centres in four districts, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and Okara. Fasailabad, Jehanian and Multan also reported deaths due to stampedes.
The stampedes were reported after several people flocked to the government distribution centres after the cash-strapped government introduced a free flour scheme for the poor, especially in Punjab province.
The schemes aim to beat the skyrocketing inflation and counter the rising popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.
As huge crowd flocked the distribution centres, police had to resort to heavy-handed approach to check looting of free flour from trucks in Muzaffarghar and Rahim Yar Khan cities.
Meanwhile, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the opening of free flour centres at 6 am on Wednesday to reduce overcrowding and inconvenience for the people.
In a meeting held at the Chief Minister's Office, it was decided that provincial ministers and secretaries would perform the duties in assigned districts for the next three days, visit flour centres and take stock of the situation themselves.
Expressing dismay at the disorder and deaths in different cities of Punjab, the chief minister also directed the officials to better guide and manage the people for their convenience.
Former prime minister Imran Khan has condemned the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government for its mismanagement at the free flour centres and held Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab caretaker chief minister Naqvi responsible for the deaths of people.
He said that the "government of thieves" has made people's lives so miserable that they are dying to collect a bag of flour.