KARACHI: Campaign to check atta prices feared to fail - Inspection teams visit various towns
KARACHI, March 19: The city government's efforts to stabilize prices of flour are feared to fail due to uncooperative attitude of police, as the shopkeepers charged with over-charging were not arrested
despite the orders of DDOs (Revenue) in some areas of the city.
During the ongoing campaign to curtail prices of flour, four shop owners were held on selling atta on higher prices by DDO (Revenue) Orangi Town. However, when the area police were asked to register the cases against them, the police did not comply with the orders.
Reports of uncooperative attitude of police with CDGK's officials were also reported in Malir Town, where DDO Revenue Malir Town complained about Police's uncooperative attitude to stabilize the prices of flour by arresting profiteers.
According to the city government officials, the authorities had given clear instructions to police officials to cooperate with the city government in arresting the profiteers. However, they said that the attitude of Orangi police in this regard reflected a total reversal of the instructions.
"The governor is being informed about the situation so that he may direct police personnel to cooperate with city government. The campaign was launched following the instructions of the governor, who ordered for it while realizing the sufferings of people due to growing trend in flour prices," an official of the city government said.
He expressed hope that the problem would be solved with the intervention of the governor. However, he pointed out that if timely steps were not taken, all efforts to control prices would prove futile.
Commenting on progress of the campaign in other areas, the official concerned said that the campaign had been moving steadily so far except in a few areas.
Meanwhile, special stalls were established in Saddar Town and flour was reportedly sold at the rate of Rs11.50 per kilogram. No violation was reported in North Nazimabad Town in this regard and atta at major markets were available at Rs12 per kilogram.
Flour was not available in markets of New Karachi Town and Shah Faisal Town when a team of city government visited both areas. Two sellers, Ibrahim and Mazhar Ali, were selling atta at Rs17 and Rs18 per kilogram in Lyari Town when they were arrested by the area police for over-charging.
In Liaquatabad Town, a downward trend in prices of flour was witnessed when a team of city government officials visited the area. In Landhi Town, atta was being sold at Rs11 per kilogram on Friday when the team visited the area markets.
The situation of flour prices in Keamari, Baldia, Gulberg,#Gadap, Korangi, Bin Qasim and Site towns could not be known, as the teams assigned to inspect these areas did not report at the price control office of the city government.
The Executive District Officer of enterprise and investment promotion department claimed that the overall campaign was successful, as visible price reduction in flour prices had been witnessed since the launch of campaign. He expressed hope that the flour at notified rates of government would remain available on regular basis.
CLARIFICATION: The food department has clarified news regarding flour retailers' complaints about overcharging by the millers.
A spokesman for the department on Friday said that neither people nor the mill owners/retailers were clear about the rates fixed by the competent authority, he added.
He said that the ex-mill rate for flour was fixed at Rs11 per kg, whereas the prices in the open market were very high. He claimed that the prices of wheat have started declining as the harvesting was catching momentum. The ex-mill rate would be revised after stability in wheat price.
He said that till then the millers would allowed to sell atta at ex-mill rate of Rs11 per kg and retailers at Rs12. Any deviation from the prices would be treated as an offence and the offenders would be treated under the relevant laws. -PPI/APP
