April 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1429

RAWALPINDI, April 22: City district government announced here on Tuesday that there was no shortage of wheat flour (atta) in the district.

In a press release issued here, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Irfan Elahi claimed that the district had a surplus of 8,785 bags of wheat flour on Monday. Revenue staff of the district government was monitoring the supply of atta at all flourmills and it was being sold at the fixed rate of Rs375 per bag, he said.

Presiding over a meeting to review the wheat flour situation, the DCO said that the administration was taking stern action against any complaint of overcharging and that heavy fines were being imposed on the wheat flour dealers found in smuggling of the commodity.

The meeting was also attended by special price magistrates, who were directed by the DCO to arrest wheat flour dealers involved in smuggling, and to make flourmills responsible for the supply of quality wheat flour.

Mr Elahi asked the price magistrates to keep vigilance on black marketing of atta and take action against the traders involved in it. He also asked them to carry out campaigns on a daily basis to ensure provision of daily-use items at the official prices.

The price magistrates informed the meeting of the progress of their campaigns in different parts of the district to ensure regular supply of wheat flour.