KHAIRPUR, April 8: The Khairpur chapter of Abadgar Action Committee (AAC) continued protest on the third consecutive day on Sunday in Kotdiji, Hingorja and Sobhodero against the food department for its failure to set up wheat procurement centres and supply gunny bags to the growers.

AAC leader in Kotidiji Faqir Niaz Hussain Bhambhro said that the department usually set up wheat purchasing centres by the end of March and supply gunny bags by the start of April but it had not so far done either of the jobs.

He said that the growers feared that the gunny bags, which were supplied through traders or agents, might make their way to influential landlords compelling the small growers to buy them from their own pockets.

AAC leader in Hingorja Fateh Memon said that the food secretary had promised to a delegation of growers who had called on him in Karachi in March that the purchasing centres would be established by April 1, gunny bags would be supplied in time and rates would be fixed soon but he did not make good his promises.

They said that the inefficiency of food department had done great harm to the growers’ interests.

Growers in Sobhodero under the banner of Sindhi Hari Committee also staged a demonstration against the food department.

DUST-STORM: Dust storm followed by rain hit Khairpur city and many towns of the district on Sunday with many signboards uprooted in the aftermath.