MIRPURKHAS, Dec 9: A group of Chakki owners have accused the district food officer (DFO) of creating an artificial flour shortage in the district and charging more than the government rate for wheat.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, Liaquat Ali, Mohammad Rafiq and other Chakki owners alleged that any Chakki owner, who refused to pay more amount to the DFO, he was denied wheat quota.

As a result, they said, most of the Chakki owners, after purchasing wheat on higher rate from the food department, had increased flour price by Rs5 per kilogramme.

They said that they had not received their wheat quota for December and were compelled to purchase the grain at open market on higher rates.

Meanwhile, deputy director, food, Mirpurkhas region, admitted that the distribution of December quota of wheat among the Chakkis and flour mills in the district was delayed for some time.—Correspondent