20000219

Mills asked to bring

down flour prices

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Azim Daudpota has on Friday asked flour mills to bring down flour prices below Rs nine per kilogramme or face cut in their quota of wheat.

Talking to a delegation of flour mills association at the Governor House,

Daudpota said the benefit of subsidy and other facilities, should reach farmers and consumers, and should not be gobbled up by smugglers, hoarders and profiteers.

He said Rangers would be posted at the entry-points and exits to check smuggling of flour from Sindh.

Later, while presiding over a meeting of food department officials to fix wheat procurement target for the next season at the Governor House, Daudpota said hoarding of atta would not be allowed to be a source of profit making by unscrupulous businessmen.

It was decided in the meeting that fresh quota would not be allocated to flour mills but if the flour mills association decides on its own, it can reallocate quota to new mills.

Those who attended the meeting included Provincial Food Minister Iftikhar Soomro, Chief Secretary Zubair Kidwai, Secretary to Governor Brig. Akhtar Zamin, Secretary Munawwar Opal and Director Food Suhail Akber Shah.