No citizens have been removed from subsidy cards during the first phase of reviewing the names of subsidy beneficiaries as claimed by some news and social media websites, the Supply and Internal Trade Ministry affirmed.

The ongoing first phase of the project aims to remove repeated names, deceased persons and those traveling abroad according to the set rules, the ministry said in a statement Monday.

The second phase of the review will start next month under certain criteria in cooperation with the social solidarity and planning ministries and all relevant bodies, it said.

As soon as the two review phases are completed, new beneficiaries will be included but so far 3.2 million have been added out of a total of 7.7 million applicants, it noted.

Wheat reserves at the governorates are sufficient for the production of subsidized bread, it added.

Source: MENA