April 27, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1429

RAWALPINDI, April 26: The wheat flour (atta) crisis in Rawalpindi appears to be subsiding, as the City District Government announced on Saturday that 23,000 bags of 20 kilogramme atta remain surplus with all the 85 flour mills in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

As the domestic harvesting of wheat crop has started, people particularly living in rural areas were not facing atta crisis any more.

This is perhaps a major reason the situation in the market has improved to some extent. At the same time, buying power also declines at the end of month. However, the demand for wheat flour is expected to rise in early May when public’s buying power will improve.

The availability of wheat flour in the local market has improved after the successful implementation of the mechanism introduced by the district administration for the prevention of smuggling of atta. This was stated by Executive District Officer (Revenue), Dr Ambar Ali Khan at a meeting held in Rawalpindi on Saturday to review the wheat flour situation.

The District Coordination Officer (DCO), Irfan Illahi, who chaired the meeting, said the revenue staff deployed in flour mills was closely monitoring the flour supply to ensure the availability of atta in the market and to avoid any shortage in the coming days. The City District Government and the Food Department have set up check posts on all highways leading to other districts.

DCO instructed the authorities to ensure availability of commodities and daily use items on cheaper rates at “Itwar Bazaars”, and keep a vigilant eye on stall holders.

Special Price Magistrates have been asked to conduct raids on atta dealers and shopkeepers to check the price of flour bags and those who are found involved in over charging should be dealt with according to law and arrest them under Price Control Act by registering cases against them, the DCO said.

In terms of wheat flour, April was the toughest month for the Food Department as well as for the district administration ever since the atta crisis erupted. Acute shortage of atta was felt in highly populated areas of the city. However, the district administration remained successful to some extent in reaching out the people with wheat flour through fair price shops, Itwar bazaars and other outlets. The main causes of shortage were the smuggling, hoarding by profiteers and excessive purchase on the part of consumers.

The Food Department received numerous complaints about the quality of atta being supplied to the masses. The District Food Controller, Ch Mohammad Asif said that samples of wheat flour were sent to the laboratory; however reports proved to be negative as contents of wheat remained satisfactory.

On the contrary, informed sources told Dawn that the wheat imported by the previous government from Australia and other countries was considered as “red wheat” and had no comparison with the locally-produced wheat. These sources further said that the previous government imported second graded wheat at 450 to 486 dollars per ton as compared to the grade one wheat which costs 610 dollars per ton.

“There must be a difference between the qualities of wheat of different grades,” and moreover, the imported wheat is at least two years old. Its moisture level had increased due to transportation by sea and millers were not very happy over this situation.