FAISALABAD: The provincial food department has reduced the wheat supply to dozens of flour grinding units (chakki) from 10 bags to four daily, irking the owners of such units who say the reduction in quota was forcing many of them to buy wheat from market and charge higher rates from consumers.

More than one hundred flour grinding units are registered with the food department, and they had been getting 10 bags of 100 kilogram wheat daily. The number of wheat bags was first reduced to six and then to three bags a couple of days ago. However, following protest by chakki owners, the administration raised the number of wheat bags to four.

Sources in the district administration say the wheat quota had been decreased after reports that the grinding unit owners were selling flour against Rs55 to Rs65 per kilogram.

However, Faisalabad Chakkai Association president Akbar Ali criticised reduction in wheat bags supply, denying that all grinding units were selling flour at higher rates.

“We are selling flour at the fixed price of Rs45 per kilogram. However, some of the unit owners are selling flour at higher rates as they are being refused their wheat quota and they have to purchase wheat from the open market at higher price,” he said.

Sources said the district administration had failed to control the flour prices at the grinding units (chakki) as well as in the open market. They said the administration had suspended wheat supply to the grinding units as a punishment for more than a week.

The wheat supply had been resumed in the last week of January following assurance by the chakki owners that they would sell flour at official price of Rs45 per kg. They had also promised that flexes would also be displayed at their units carrying the flour prices and complaint number for the consumers.

It was responsibility of the district administration to ensure that flour prices were being displayed at these units and official rate was being enforced, they said. Some of the units not “enjoying good relations” with food department lower officials were also fined for flouting administration’s orders.

However, many consumers complained about overcharging by chakki owners, refuting the officials claim that strict action was being taken against profiteers.

They said the masses were being fleeced by mafias involved in hoarding and profiteering and the government was just taking cosmetic measures.

A district administration officer said it was legal and moral duty of chakki owners to honour the commitment they had made with the deputy commissioner during a meeting. He said the unit owners had staged a protest demonstration against suspension of wheat supply quota.

In view of looming flour crisis in the province, the DC ordered resumption of wheat quota for chakki owners following the assurance that they would abide by official flour rate of Rs45 per kg, the official said, seeking anonymity.

“I am not ready to believe that all units are selling flour at Rs55 to Rs65 per kg,” he said, adding he would get it checked and take action against those found involved in illegality.

Akbar Ali said, “We had been struggling on two fronts -- ensuring flour provision to our customers and getting smooth supply of wheat. The district administration officials are tightening noose around us for nothing. They should rather facilitate us,” he added.

“We had been getting 10 wheat bags daily, but the number was first reduced to six bags and then to three a couple of days ago,”

He said that after protest and negotiations, the administration agreed to provide flour bags to each unit daily.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2020