January 16, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 06, 1429

SHIKARPUR, Jan 15: The flour crisis is gradually coming back to an end, despite some disturbing reports, in the interior of Sindh after establishment of sale points and stalls which are selling this staple food at controlled prices under supervision of Rangers.

In Shikarpur, the district government has established fair price shops selling a 10 kilogramme bag of flour for Rs163 but people complain even a 10kg bag is out of reach of the poor daily wagers who can buy only one or two kilograms flour daily.

In Jacobabad, hundreds of people were seen queuing at the sale points set up in different union councils to get a 10 kg bag of flour for Rs160 under the supervision of Rangers and police.

Chakkis in Badin received 13,000 wheat bags out of 30,000 bags quota for the district and 45,000 bags of 10kg flour bags for sale at government-fixed price, said Colonel Aijaz. He said that three sale centres had been set up in the city selling flour for Rs16 per kg and Rs160 for 10kg bag. More sale centres would be set up in Tando Bago and Golarchi towns and the practice would continue till the crisis had been brought under control, he added.

The mukhtiarkar and DFC Shankar Lal accompanied by personnel of police and Rangers found 247 wheat bags hoarded in two godowns during a raid on Pakistan Rice Mill and sealed them.

Major Mohammad Atif, In-charge of Thar Rangers during a visit to Food Department’s godowns in Makli advised people to lodge complaints on 0298-920213, 920105 if they faced any hardship in getting wheat flour at official rate of Rs16 per kg.

In Sanghar, personnel of Rangers checked wheat stock in godowns and supervised sale of flour at sale points set up in several towns of the district. Rangers also escorted wheat quota dispatched to flour mills.

Mirpurkhas DFC Hassan Bux Bhutto said that flour crisis in the district would come to an end after increase in wheat quota.

The government has failed to control flour price in different parts of Dadu and Jamshoro districts and people are forced to buy flour at Rs31 to 32 per kg in the open market.

In Dadu, the administration had set up a flour stall outside the office of mukhtiarkar’s office where some 1,500 people came to buy flour but only 200 could get it and the rest had to return empty handed.