Bread subsidies have cost LE16 billion during the current fiscal year 2012/13, the presidency said in a report Wednesday.
A presidential report said the state has managed to partially address the problem of subsidized bread's weight. It also reported that the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has been following President Mohamed Morsy's directives to enhance the product's quality.
According to the report, which is part of a series of other reports highlighting the presidency's achievements during the first 100 days of President Morsy's term, 18,400 lawsuits were filed between 2 August and 30 September regarding bread production violations. Nearly 17,500 tons of flour have been confiscated before reaching the black market, it added.
The report said the state does not benefit from bread subsidies which, instead, help low-income citizens and strengthen ties between the state and the people.
In a speech to thousands of supporters at Cairo Stadium on Saturday, Morsy said he achieved 80 percent of his promises on resolving bread production problems.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
