KARACHI, Dec 5: The Sindh Assembly was on Friday cautioned against the looming atta crisis in the province owing to hoarding and exorbitant increase in the price of wheat.

The warning was sounded by both the opposition and treasury benches. Ms Farida Baloch of PML-Q, on a point of order, had raised the issue of wheat shortage due to which people were facing great difficulties. She warned of a serious crisis if the situation was not controlled.

Rafiq Engineer of the PPP highlighted the difficulties being faced by the people due six-seven rupees increase per kg. He claimed that owing to wheat shortage, about 150 flour mills had closed down. Unless immediate action was taken, The situation could turn into a serious crisis and cause problems to the down trodden.

Responding to the concerns, Food Minister Arif Jatoi attributed the shortage to hoarding of wheat. He said it was responsibility of the district governments to take appropriate action against such elements.

He said that in October, wheat quota of 108,000 tonnes was fixed for flour mills but they lifted only 90,000 tonnes. During Ramazan also, they did not lift the whole quota.

He said this was the main factor contributing to atta shortage in Sindh. He claimed that City and Zila Nazims were responsible to deal with the situation. He said that DCOs should exercise their powers in this regard.

PPP’ Syed Qaim Ali Shah criticized allocation of job quota to PML-Q activists and described this as ‘contrary to rules’ and ‘a great injustice’.

An interesting situation developed on a point of order of Dr Mukesh Kumar when contradiction between ministers’ statements was noticed on the issue of funds for the construction of temples and cremation sites. He had demanded release of funds for the purpose.

Responding to his contention, Minister for Planning and Development Shoaib Bokhari said that the National Assembly had allowed the use of MNAs funds for the repairs and construction of temples and cremation sites. He said the provincial government was examining the request and trying to take a decision to ensure that in future such funds were not consumed in the construction of mosques.

This prompted a protest by the Minister for Works Dr Arbab Rahim who said: “if temples can be constructed with MPAs funds, then why cannot be the mosques?”

He said that temples and mosques should be built with individuals’ funding. Dr Mukesh was of the view that if Hindus and Muslims used this fund for the construction of their own places of worship, there should be no objection.

MMA members also joined in the protest.

Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah directed Mr Bokhari to settle the matter in such a way so that minority members did not face problems. He directed the minister to make a policy statement on the issue on Monday.

MMA’s Yunus Baari raised the issue of raids by the KESC teams in Rashdi Goth and alleged misbehaviour with women folk and children. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged excesses by the KESC officials as complained by the people.

Ghulam Qadir Chandio feared that Shaista Almani might have been killed. Leader of the opposition raised the issue of demotion of four judicial magistrates who were among the 63 officials promoted on Oct 27.