LAHORE, Sept 18: The Punjab government has decided to directly monitor production of flour mills and the supply of the commodity from there to distributors and retailers to ensure its smooth supply to people.

A direction to implement the new policy was given to all DCOs by chief secretary Salman Siddique here on Tuesday, warning that the price magistrates would start conducting raids in the next 48 hours to arrest retailers selling 20kg flour bags over Rs295.

Officials said the policy had been adopted after finding out that the quantity of flour being sold in the retail market was much less than the wheat releases being made to millers in Punjab. This indicated that either wheat or the flour was being hoarded to create a crisis in the province.

According to the direction, the chief secretary has asked the DCOs to immediately start monitoring the mills in their respective districts. The monitoring through the district food departments should fully be backed by the district administration.

The DCOs were also asked to ensure proper supply of flour to retail shops through the price magistrates. The government would delegate magistracy powers to more officers in districts if required, the directive said.

The chief secretary made it clear to all DCOs to deal with price hike as an emergency and control the situation on a priority basis. In order to protect people from profiteering by retailers, the district administration should make necessary arrangements for the supply of daily-use items from wholesale markets to the Ramazan and Sasta bazaars on the pattern of City District Government Lahore (CDGL).

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has appointed 14 special magistrates for the trial of offences relating to price control in the city, says a notification.

They are: Executive district officer (agriculture), Lahore, district officer (E&IP), district officer (PF), district officer (PF&TT), DO (livestock), DO (food), DO (health-1), DO (health-2), DO (health-3), DO (community development), DO (labour), DO (cooperatives) and veterinary officers Dr Izaz Anjum and Dr Shakeel Ahmad. —Staff Reporter