G-B to act against flour suppliers

Gilgit-Baltistan government Will also supply flour to upper parts before first snowfall.

GILGIT: The government will move against flour dealers in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), officials said on Saturday. Flour in G-B is being sold at a heavily-subsidised rate of Rs530 per 40kg bag but there have been complaints by many people that flour available in the market is of substandard quality.

“There were complaints against substandard flour being sold by dealers in market and we have decided to take action against all those involved in this unhealthy practice,” a government official said.

The official said that G-B’s Secretary Food Fida Hussain has directed officials to check up on the complaints and, if found true, act against the suppliers.

The official added that the government had also decided to supply grain to the upper parts of G-B as soon as possible.

“Since most of roads leading areas like Minimerg and Astore etcetera get blocked due to snowfall, therefore they will be supplied grain in time,” he said. G-B depends almost entirely on the rest of Pakistan for its food, as the terrain makes it unsuitable for cultivation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2010.