PESHAWAR, Jan 10: Members of the Town Council-1 and Town Council-2 at separate meetings on Thursday expressed concern over the flour crisis and loadshedding of gas and electricity.

The Town Council-2 meeting was held with Israrullah Khan in the chair. Members spoke out against the non-availability of flour at subsidised rates and described the situation as a failure of the provincial government.

Naib Nazim Pechagai Malik Farzand Ali Khan accused the District Coordination Officer of ignoring elected representatives and allotting flour dealerships to his favourites.

The meeting passed a resolution calling for the supply of at least 300 bags of flour to each union council on a daily basis to overcome the crisis.

Another resolution was passed asked the government to stop power and gas loadshedding in their areas.

Some nazims complained that their areas had been facing long hours of unscheduled loadshedding which was also affecting water supply.

A resolution tabled by Sahibzada Ashraf condemning the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was also passed and the participants staged a walkout as a mark of protest. They offered fateha for victims of the Liaquat Bagh tragedy and termed it a barbaric act.

Another resolution moved by Naib Nazim Malik Farzand Ali Khan demanded that all new ADP schemes be executed under the supervision of Citizen Community Boards.

Responding to questions, Town-2 Nazim Haji Mohammad Sharif said that no nazim had been allotted flour quota and owners of flour mills were directly distributing it through dealers.

Mr Sharif said that he was in contact with officials and nazims of district councils to overcome the flour crisis.

Other council members, including Humayun Khan, Insan Mohammad, Abid Khan, Farzand Ali Khan, Lady Councillor Rumana Ajmal, Mohammad Suhail, Masir Khan, Syed Rehman Khan and Shah Nawaz Khan also spoke on the occasion.

Convener Niaz Mohammad Khan, presiding over the Town Council-1 meeting, complained that council members had not been attending meetings or coming in late and said such attitude showed lack of interest on their part. He adjourned the meeting due to lack of quorum and asked members to ensure their participation in the next meeting.

Later, the members talked to the media and condemned the government’s failure in overcoming the flour crisis and loadshedding of natural gas and electricity.