17 July 2004	Saturday	28 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

RAWALPINDI, July 16: Wheat flour is being sold at rates much higher than the official ones as the food department and the district administration have turned a blind eye to black marketing.

Consumers on Friday claimed that flour was being sold in the market at the rate of Rs15 per kilogramme, whereas the 20kg bag was available at Rs260 to Rs280. Mr Akhtar, a consumer, said he bought a 20kg bag from a flour mill for Rs260. "If this is the ex-mill rate, then you can imagine the price at which it would be sold in the open market," he added.

Another wrongdoing taking place in the flour business is that the bags are underweight by 1-2kgs per bag. The provincial food minister, the other day at a briefing, announced that the wheat flour prices would be kept at Rs220-225 per 20kg bag.

He further said these prices would be maintained. However, in contrast to this the district administration, on the advice of the food department, on Monday enhanced the official rates.

According to the new rates, the ex-mill rate has been fixed at Rs223 per 20kg bag, while the retail rate has been set at Rs230 per bag. Similarly, the rates for loose pack have been fixed at Rs12 per kilogramme.