AN office-bearer of the Chakki Owners Association told Dawn in confidence that all the claims of food department were false and officials were trying to hoodwink the government as well as consumers.

He said many chakkis in Hyderabad were lying closed and flour was being sold at the rate of Rs20 per kg against the government-fixed rates of Rs 16 pr kg.

He accused the roller flour mills of malpractices and said that they were dispatching flour to Karachi, Badin and other parts of the province at the cost of people of Hyderabad district.