74 wheat flour sale points established in Rawalpindi

As the flour crisis continued to deepen, the Rawalpindi Food Department Wednesday set up 74 wheat flour sale points in different areas of the district to facilitate the citizens.

The administration said it was trying hard to ensure a regular supply of the commodity at subsidised rates.

According to a commissioner office spokesperson, earlier, 60 wheat flour sale points were set up by the administration while on the directives of Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Saqib Manan, the number of these sale points have been increased to 74 in Rawalpindi including the city, cantt and Saddar.

He informed that all flour mills of the district were directed to supply 500 subsidised wheat flour bags weighing 10 kgs to the citizens daily.

Meanwhile, the price of wheat has hit Rs5,000 per maund in the grain markets, causing the rate of the flour to skyrocket in the division.

The commissioner’s office also said the district administration was ensuring supply of nearly 37,000 wheat flour bags on daily basis in various markets and bazaars across the district.

The spokesperson informed that teams were also monitoring all the exit points of Rawalpindi district to prevent the smuggling of the commodity and action would be taken against the violators according to the law.

In line with the directives of the district administration, the food department had launched a crackdown on flour mills for not providing the required quota, he added.

“The food department will take action against hoarders and those involved in the cartelisation of wheat causing a price hike as we have a surplus of agricultural commodities in the Rawalpindi division,” he remarked.

Responding to a question, he said there was no flour shortage in the district and an ample quantity of flour was available at all sale points.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2023.