TOBA TEK SINGH, Sept 20: People have expressed concern at a ‘sudden raise’ of Rs20 in the price of 20kg flour bag at fair price shops, which are working here under the provincial government’s subsidy scheme for Ramazan.

They said that 20kg flour bag was being sold for Rs255 till Wednesday, but a meeting of District Coordination Officer Nawazish Ali and flourmill owners on Thursday increased the price to Rs275.

People also said only a few of them were getting flour from fair price shops, adding that most of them were buying 20kg flour bag from Ramazan bazaars for Rs280 or from open market for Rs285.

Separately, the DCO said the district administration had decided to begin a crackdown on wheat hoarders and flourmill owners involved in profiteering.

Addressing a meeting of the district price control committee at his office, the DCO said those fleecing people in Ramazan would be dealt with an iron hand. The meeting set price of 20kg flour bag at Rs285, ghee Rs83 to Rs91 per kg, basmati rice Rs50 to Rs55 per kg, ‘daal chana’ Rs36 to Rs37 per kg, ‘baisin’ Rs39 per kg, ‘daal masoor’ Rs49 per kg, ‘daal maash’ (B grade) Rs60 per kg, ‘daal maash’ (A grade) Rs68 per kg, ‘daal moong’ Rs40 per kg, sugar Rs29 per kg, mutton Rs180 per kg, beef Rs100 per kg, milk Rs19 per kg, curd Rs21 per kg and ‘roti’ Rs3 each.

The DCO also directed the special magistrate and deputy district officers (revenue) to continue raids on shops to keep the prices under control.