DADU, May 1: The vigilance committee of the Food Department aided by personnel of Rangers and police seized 100,000 bags of hoarded wheat and sealed 30 rice factories and flour mills after raids on mini-flour mills, flour mills, rice factories and guesthouses of influential people in Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi towns on Wednesday.

The committee formed by Sindh Minister for Food Mir Nadir Magsi with Shahnawaz Magsi as its chairman, deputy director of food Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas regions, Lal Khan Jatoi, and a heavy contingent of Rangers and police continued raids in different parts of the district. The minister suspended District Food Controller Rafique Shahani after taking notice of smuggling and hoarding of grain in the district.

The committee raided mini-flour mills, flour mills, rice factories and guesthouses of political leaders, influential people and traders in Johi, Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah, seized 100,000 bags of hoarded wheat and sealed 30 flour and rice factories under the Food Grain Act.

Shahnawaz said that the government was taking action against hoarders over growing complaints about hoarding and smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan and other parts of the country. The government had fixed procurement target of 10 million wheat bags.