SIALKOT, Nov 13: The artificial shortage of flour bags has been created in Sialkot, Daska, Bhopalwala, Sambrial, Motra, Chawinda, Badiana and Pasrur as flour mills have raised the prices of 20 kgs flour bag from Rs190 to Rs200.

Retailers claimed they were unable to sell flour bags in their shops and the artificial shortage would continue till the reduction in prices by flour mills.

On the other hand, the people have protested against the sale of substandard and adulterated flour bags in Ramazan bazaars under the supervision of the district government.

The district government has planned to sell 164,000 flour bags of 20 kgs on subsidised rate of Rs160 in Ramazan bazaars. It is learnt that flour mills have supplied substandard flour bags in Ramazan bazaars. The flour mills had packed the flour bags with the last season’s rejected wheat in connivance with the officials of the Food department and district government.