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Atta hoarders

warned of tough

action

KARACHI: Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Iftekhar Soomro on Wednesday warned the hoarders and profiteers to desist from creating artificial shortage of wheat flour (atta) and raising its price, otherwise strict action will be taken against them.

He said nowhere in the province there had been any complaint about flour shortage or increase in the prices.

"This is only an attempt being made by vested interests and profiteers who are out to create unrest among people," the minister pointed out and appealed the people not to pay any heed to such rumours.

Presiding over a meeting at his office on Wednesday, Iftekhar Soomro said that abundant wheat stocks were available in Sindh which could cater to the entire provincial needs till May 2000.

He said wheat stocks of 146,258 tonnes have been released for the month of March whereas 63,000 tonnes were being lifted from Karachi Port and other 25,000 tonnes was expected from the Punjab.

The minister said that wheat flour is being supplied to people at Rs. 90 per 10 kg bag through 271 outlets of flour mills and so far 0.2 million bags have been sold out.

He said that 278,908 flour bags have been sold out at weekly bazars and another 175,425 bags will be sold next month.

The minister directed the food officials to keep watch on flour mills and ensure that subsidised wheat supplied by government is used only for atta production. He said action should be taken against flour mills, if found involved in contravening such directives.

Secretary Food Munawar Opal informed the meeting that food department officials have been maintaining strict watch on flour mills and if any mill was found involved in creating artificial shortage of atta or in price raise, not only legal action would be taken against it but its wheat quota too cancelled.

He informed that harvest of wheat will be completed soon and it is hoped Sindh will have record wheat production this year.

Director Food Sohail Shah also briefed the meeting about steps taken by food department.ÑAPP