SWABI, Nov 23: Disregarding the government warning, profiteers have increased the prices of essential commodities, particularly flour, during Ramazan and with Eid approaching, they are exploiting the situation, shows a survey.

Before Ramazan, a 20kg bag of flour was available for Rs188. The same bag is now being sold at Rs200. The local administration has failed to take any action against the profiteers.

In Topi and its suburbs, people protested against what they called an artificial shortage of flour and exploitation at the hands of mill-owners and retailers.

The protesters demanded that like Punjab the district governments of the NWFP should ensure the availability of flour at subsidized rates of Rs160 per 20kg bag. The district food controller had fixed Rs45 per kilogram but the meat is being sold at Rs50 per kilogram.