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BAHAWALPUR, Nov 15: With the steep rise of flour prices in the open market, the people are flocking to the fair price shops/depots set up under the Ramazan package by the local administration.
The flour is available in the open market at over Rs180 per 20kg bag while the fair price shops/depots at various points in the city and other places in all tehsils of the district are offering Rs160.
A large number of consumers are seen in long queues at the depots for the provision of flour at cheaper rates. On Saturday, the people reached these outlets early in the morning and continued to stand in queues till iftar to get the flour at reduced rates.
The shopkeepers claim they have not increased the flour prices but are selling the commodity at fixed rates on which the flour mills are providing them for retailing.
A Food department spokesman told Dawn that the flour was available in adequate quantity at fair price shops/depots and there was no cause of alarm. However, he admitted that there was unusual rush at fair price shops.
He dispelled the impression that people’s craze for the purchase of flour under the Ramazan package was due to reports that flour mills were not grinding in full capacity and there might be a shortage of the commodity after a few days.
RALLY: Students of Sadiq Egerton Degree College, Bahawalpur, boycotted their classes and took out a rally to press for the acceptance of their demands here on Saturday.
They demanded that all Punjab BISEs, including Bahawalpur, should change the pattern of question papers for the first year class besides removing differences between the pattern of Punjab BISEs and the Federal board, Islamabad.
They took out the rally from the college premises and paraded the main city roads. Holding placards inscribed with their demands, the protesters raised slogans in support of their demands. At Farid Gate, the students’ leaders addressed the rally and, later, dispersed peacefully.
Their leaders told Dawn that there should not be any difference between the examination system of the Punjab boards and federal board, Islamabad.
They maintained that candidates of the federal board managed to secure more marks as to the result of 50 percent choice in question papers which was contrary to Punjab boards’ candidates with having no choice.
In this way, they said that a great majority of successful candidates of the Punjab boards would be deprived of admission to degree classes this year.
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY: The Civil Lines police have taken into custody two more accused, including PML leader’s brother Asif Channar, in the gang-rape case of constable’s daughter.
However, it was learnt on Saturday that the main accused, Nasir, was still at large.
