LAHORE, Nov 28: Problem with flour market is of wheat shortage rather than mills flouting their quota or sending flour to other provinces, say flour millers at a gathering to welcome their colleague, Mian Riaz — a new entrant to the association.

At a press conference, they claimed that even small procedural problems got magnified during shortage and that was what was happening right now. The millers were sending to other parts of country only that flour which they grind from private wheat.

All the wheat being released by the food department was ending at shops in urban areas of the province. The trouble was that departmental releases were in so short supply that even small quantities of flour that sneaked to other provinces become a problem.

Otherwise, flour going to other provinces was a routine and not illegal practice either. The millers had business contacts all over the country, but current shortages had disturbed all those links, they said.

Meanwhile, the department has sealed seven more mills in the province for inter-mills trade and selling flour at higher prices or sending flour to other provinces. These mills are: Al-Karam and Syed Flour Mills in Rahim Yar Khan, Chaudhry and Thutha in Bahawalpur, Faran in Layyah, Rehmat Flour Mills in Islamabad and Latif-Majid Flour Mills in Rawalpindi.

It also de-sealed two mills, which are: OK Flour Mills in Gujranwala and Muhammad Flour Mills in Rawalpindi.

The department has also set up a toll free number at its directorate for complaints, which is: 0800-13525. The officials say that any consumer can get his complaint regarding shortage in their respective areas or overcharging by the shopkeepers registered.