FAISALABAD, Nov 10 Members of confectioners and bakers associations staged a protest rally against the shortage of sugar and its exorbitant price here on Tuesday.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with demands, the protesters led by Ittefaq Ahmed and Mohammad Shakil started their journey from Madanpura and marched on Narawala Road to reach Zila Council Chowk where they threw traffic out of gear.

They staged a sit-in in front of the DCO's office. However, they proceeded to the commissioner's officer as DCO Saeed Iqbal was not available. Outside the commissioner's office, the demonstrators raised slogans against hoarders and government officials, who, according to them, had failed to arrest culprits involved in profiteering.

Talking to reporters, the demonstrators said they were running from pillar to post to get sugar, but to no avail.

They said that hoarders were trying to fix sugar prices on their own and the officials were doing nothing to check them.

They said the shortage would render scores of workers attached with the industry jobless and would also create law and order problem.

Commissioner Tahir Hussain invited association's officials to his office and informed them that sugar supply to bakers, confectioners and other commercial users would be ensured as per the Punjab government directions. He said quota of sugar supply to domestic consumers had been enhanced and the administration would shortly overcome the prevailing crisis.

He urged the demonstrators to help the government form a joint strategy to cope with the crisis.

Meanwhile, the DCO also held a meeting with officials of different departments and representatives of retailers association. He said the government had doubled the sugar quota of Faisalabad to 252 tons that would be distributed among 1,440 shopkeepers of the district. He said sale points had been established at four sports complexes in the city and the sale process was being monitored by the staff of different departments.

He said the district administration would form clusters consisting of at least 10 shopkeepers. The administration would also provide one kilogram sugar packet at all Friday and Sunday bazaars and separate counters would be established for women, elderly citizens and the disabled at these bazaars.