TIMERGARA/MINGORA/KHAR: Long queues of people were seen on Sunday at the subsidised wheat flour sale points established by the local administration across the Lower Dir district.

Assistant commissioner, Adenzai, Tariq Hussain distributed 600 subsidised flour bags of 20kg among the local residents in different union councils.

Similarly, the local administration supervised the flour distribution at Timergara and other bazaars.

Media reports about the expected shortage of wheat flour in the markets perturbed the residents, but an official of the administration said there was no shortage of wheat flour in the district.

District food controller Abu Bakar also rejected such reports and said the food department had enough stock.

He said all the seven mills in the district had been directed to provide the required quota of wheat flour to the specified points.

A subsidised flour bag of 20kg is being sold at Rs810 against the open market rate ranging from Rs1,150 to Rs1,200.

Meanwhile, commissioner Malakand division Riaz Ahmad Mehsud on Sunday said stern action would be taken if the dealers were found creating artificial price hike and black marketing of wheat flour in the division.

The warning was made in a press release issued from the commissioner’s office in Saidu Sharif.

“Supply of wheat flour at subsidised rates will be ensured to general public at every tehsil of the division. From the specified shops consumers can purchase subsidised wheat flour any time,” he stated.

The commissioner rejected the rumours about the shortage and price hike of wheat flour in the Malakand division and said sufficient stock was available with the agriculture department.

Meanwhile, fair price shops set up across the Bajaur tribal district are helping the people get wheat flour at the controlled rate.

This was informed at a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud on Sunday.

The meeting was told that price of flour had been increased, but there was no shortage of the commodity across the district. However, the participants noted that some flour dealers were involved in the price hike to get illegal profits.

On the occasion, DC Usman Mehsud directed the officials to ensure availability of wheat flour to the consumers at the fair price shops.

It was decided that officials of the district administration would pay surprise visits to the flour shops in order to ensure availability of flour to people.

The meeting also announced to take strict action against the dealers violating the official price or hoarding the flour.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020