HYDERABAD: Comm­issioner Bilal Ahmed Memon has directed all deputy commissioners of Hyderabad division to ensure implementation of Sindh government’s notification fixing wheat flour’s rate at Rs65 per kilogram.

He was chairing a meeting here on Friday on controlling flour price amid what he described as “an artificial shortage” persisting in the division. He called for increasing the number of flour stalls so that people could easily get the commodity.

The meeting was attended by Additional Commissioner Sanaullah Rind, Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro and deputy director food Maqsood Hussain, as well as Flour Mills Association, Hyderabad chapter general secretary Mohammad Yasin, Atta Chakki Owners Welfare Association president Haji Mohammad Memon and others concerned. Sindh Food Secretary Raja Khurram and other deputy commissioners of division attended the meeting online.

The commissioner said that food department was busy preparing a comprehensive policy to ensure sale of inexpensive flour in the open market. He said that this policy would decide quota availability of wheat to chakkis. He said that a notification was then issued for flour’s price.

Asks all DCs to supervise flour distribution

Mr Memon requested the food secretary to place food inspectors Mohammad Ali Magsi and Murad Ai Loond under suspension in the wake of reports that roller mills were getting no supply or short supply of wheat quota and the officials’ non-cooperation with the district administration concerned.

He asked Hyderabad DC Fuad Soomro to arrest these two food inspectors in case they were seen at any flour distribution stall or food department godown; or even if they tried to interfere with the sale of flour at officially notified price. He made it clear that no official of revenue or food department would be spared if found responsible for wrongdoing.

The commissioner directed food department officials to make sure that flour was properly distributed by roller mills which were being supplied wheat by food department as per quota. He stressed that all DCs should supervise flour distribution within their respective areas. He said that flour mills would communicate to them the number of stalls for distribution of flour on a daily basis so that they could keep delivering flour.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2023