BAJAUR: The quota of subsidised wheat flour for Bajaur would be increased to ensure sufficient and easy availability of flour to people of the region, said Food Secretary Kuhsal Khan here on Sunday.

At a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Fayyaz Khan during his visit to district, he was told that the annual demand of the district for wheat flour was about 135,616 metric tonnes while the region produced only 60,000 metric tonnes wheat on annual basis.

He was told that provincial government had earlier allocated 208 tonnes quota of subsidised wheat flour for Bajaur on daily basis.

However, the the quota was reduced to 147 tonnes during the last few weeks due to unknown reasons.

The food secretary assured the deputy commissioner that not only the previous quota of subsidised wheat for the district would be restored immediately rather it would be increased.

Later, Khushal Khan visited the flour mills and several bazaars to check availability of subsidised wheat flour.

He directed the relevant officials to keep watch on the flour mills and dealers to avoid irregularities in distribution of subsidised flour in the region.

Meanwhile, the district administration on Sunday sealed three more stone crushing plants in Bajaur.

A statement issued from the deputy commissioner office said that three stone crushing plants, situated in Khar teshil, were sealed.

It said that action against the stone crushing plants was taken as the owners had no legal documents for operating the plants.

The statement said that the owners were directed some two weeks ago to either obtain legal documents from the administration or close the plants voluntarily.

The provincial government has decided to close all the illegal stone crushing plants in the district.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2021