DADU, Sept 11: Flour crisis has hit different areas of Jamshoro and Dadu districts following strike by the mills as shopkeepers were selling the commodity for Rs32 to 33 per kilogram.

Some 200 chakkis and flour mills were shut in two districts because of the protest of millers due to reduction in wheat quota from 48 to 17 bags per week.

Flour mills and chakkis owners staged demonstration in Dadu, Sehwan and Bhan Syedabad, while in Bhan Town they took out a rally led by Gul Mohammad Memon and Qasim Memon. They said that all flour mills and chakkis would remain closed if their quota was not increased by the Food Department. They alleged the Food Department of being responsible for flour crisis.

In Dadu, chakkis and four mill owners staged demonstration led by Sikandar Hussain Lakhair. Leaders alleged that big traders had stocked huge quantity of wheat which they were selling outside the district. Flour mills and Chakkis owners in Sehwan also protested against reduction of wheat quota.

Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: Chakki owners decided to observe strike against reduction in wheat quota and threatened to launch a protest drive.

According to a press release issued here on Thursday, Chairman Chakki Association Liaquat Ali Qureshi, Vice Chairman Abdul Rasheed Abbasi and President Mohammed Ibrahim condemned Food Department officers for imposing ban on wheat quota of chakkis being operated on diesel engines. They said this ban would result in closure of a number of chakkis.

They said that there was no electricity in Thar desert, and chakkis run on diesel engines, hence this decision would hit the people of Thar.

They demanded of the President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and other authorities to take immediate notice of it, increase wheat quota of Mirpurkhas region and lift ban imposed on chakkis being operated with diesel engines.