LAHORE: The Punjab food department has formed a committee to probe complaints of grinding of substandard wheat by mills meant for provision of free flour supplies.

In view of media reports received from different parts of the province, Food Secretary Muhammad Zaman Wattoo has decided to form an inquiry committee as well as taking samples of flour from various mills and get them tested from the laboratories to ascertain the quality of atta being supplied to the masses free of cost during Ramazan.

A spokesperson for the department said the food secretary has clearly told the flour mills that there will be no compromise on the quality of flour. “The food department has never allowed grinding of any unwholesome wheat and will not allow in future too. We’re committed to providing high quality flour to the public,” the spokesperson quoted Mr Wattoo as saying.

The complaints received regarding the quality of wheat are being fully investigated and no compromise will be made on the quality of flour, he quoted the secretary as assuring the consumers.

He said the department has launched a campaign to collect flour samples from across the province and get them tested from the laboratories so that the quality of flour, especially the quality of Ramadan package flour, can be maintained.

The spokesperson claimed that the test reports are “generally” satisfactory and action has been taken wherever the complaint about quality or weight arose. As far as the presence or supply of defective wheat is concerned, a probe has been initiated by the secretary and a strict disciplinary action will be taken against those found involved in any malpractice, he said.

Meanwhile, Pest Warning Assistant Director Shahid Hussain raided a warehouse and recovered substandard pesticides worth over Rs11.533 million. The official raided the warehouse of United Distributors and confiscated around 8,000 units of poor quality pesticides.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2023