HYDERABAD, Dec 4: Hyderabad is facing an acute shortage of flour in the wake of non-supply of weekly quota of wheat to roller flour mills of the district.

The wheat had to be supplied on Dec 1 but it could not be made available to mill owners even on Dec 4 with the result that the price of flour has increased from Rs10.50 to Rs13 per kilogramme and a 10kg bag of flour, which was available at Rs105, is now being sold at Rs130.

A large number of roller flour mill owners here on Thursday held a protest demonstration outside the office of the district food controller against the non-supply of their weekly quota of wheat.

Talking to this correspondent, Chakki Owners Association president Nawab Ali said local officials of the food department were creating differences among mill owners instead of supplying them their wheat quota.

He said the officials had offered 100 bags of wheat to each mill against the weekly quota of 280 bags which was refused by the owners.

He said all the mills were lying closed.

Meanwhile, the All Hyderabad Hotel and Sheermal Association protested against the inordinate increase in the price of flour.

In a joint statement issued here on Thursday, association president Shehzad Umer and general-secretary Salahuddin said while the opposition and the government were fighting over the Legal Framework Order, the people were suffering due to the increase in prices of essential items.

They alleged that the Sindh government was in league with owners of roller flour mills, as a result the flour crisis had been created.

They demanded that the Sindh government should order an inquiry against food department officials.

They also appealed to the federal government to intervene in the matter and ensure that the flour price was decreased.

DOCTORS’ MOOT: As many as 500 doctors have sought registration to attend the 16th Biennial International Congress of Cardiology, scheduled to be held at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, from Dec 12 to 14.