October 06, 2008	Monday	Shawwal 06, 1429

TAXILA, Oct 5: The small town of Taxila having more than a dozen flour mills has become a hub of wheat and flour smuggling with tons of the staple food being pushed into the districts of NWFP from here through busy land routes.

According to official statistics, police in Taxila and its adjoining town of Wah Cantonment confiscated the highest number of bags of wheat flour, but much bigger quantity is being smuggled daily.

The smugglers are taking full advantage of adequate availability of flour and “loosely guarded” boundaries of the towns, it has been learnt. There are also reports that these elements are greasing the palms of the law enforcers and food department officials to carry out the illegal trade.

It has been observed that smuggling of flour from Taxila and Hassanabdal to different parts of Hazara division is continuing unabated through traditional routes.

The commodity is mainly being smuggled to Farooqia, Hattar, Khanpur, Haripur and Kot Najeebullah.

The smugglers use cars and passenger vans to smuggle wheat flour through Hazra Road, HMC Road and Museum Road. After sunset, smuggling is carried out through untraditional routes like Taxila-Sultanpur via Usman Khattar, Taxila-Khanpur via Gangoo, Hassanabdal-Lub Meel and Gadwal to Budho via Pur Miana.

Many believe that the local administration’s strategy to curb flour and wheat smuggling has failed due to the alleged involvement of some officials of the police and other agencies in the illegal act.

Some shopkeepers told this correspondent that a powerful smuggling mafia with the connivance of some “black sheep” in the food department and the police was doing a roaring business.

They said smuggling of wheat flour to other provinces was the major cause behind the shortage of the staple food, which was now being sold at exorbitant prices.

No official of the food department was available for comments despite repeated attempts.