LAKKI MARWAT, Jan 10: Flour crisis in the district has deepened and people have been increasingly finding it difficult to get a 20kg bag even for Rs500.

On the one hand flour is not easily available in the open market, on the other the only utility store in Lakki city has failed to meet the demand. The provincial food department has set up eight fair price shops in the district to sell flour at control rates.

An official at the district administration said that 370 flour bags were being supplied to each fair price shop on a daily basis.

The Lakki district coordination officer, assistant coordination officer and food department officials are monitoring the process of flour distribution, he said.

People complained that the only fair price stall in Lakki City was not sufficient to cope with the demand. They said that at least five more such stalls should be established in the city.

They also urged the district administration to launch a crackdown on hoarders and take all measures to ensure availability of flour in the open market on official rates.