LAHORE, Aug 19: The government can bring the flour mills under its control to curb artificial shortage in the market and arbitrary increase in its price despite abundant wheat stocks, officials said.

A meeting, presided over by Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood, was held on Tuesday to review the situation of wheat and flour in the province. The additional chief secretary, home secretary, secretaries for finance and food, and director food attended the meeting, says a handout.

The officials decided to take strict measures to ensure availability of flour at fixed price in the market. The meeting was informed that sufficient wheat stocks were available at public and private level in the province, but a mafia had created artificial shortage of flour in connivance with flour millers and food department officials.

The chief secretary directed the food department to bind the mills to supply flour at fixed rates according to the demand.