Rumours about flour shortage in Swat dismissed

MINGORA: Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam on Friday dismissed the rumours about the shortage of wheat flour in Swat district.

The official said that the district administration was taking measures to ensure the availability of wheat and flour in the district. Talking to media persons after a meeting with the owners and dealers of flour mills and delegations of traders, the deputy commissioner said that more than 400,000 bags of flour were available in the stock.

He added that daily 12,000 flour bags were being distributed at subsidized rates in the district. “It has been agreed with the dealers that the local 20 kilogram bag of flour will be sold for Rs810, and Punjab made flour bag will be sold for Rs1150,” the deputy commissioner said, adding that the administration had stock of flour for 32 days.

Saqib Raza directed all the officers of the district to pay surprise visits to the market on a daily basis to ensure the provision of flour and wheat to the citizens. "We will not accept any kind of black marketing of flour, and high prices in the district, and will ensure of the provision of the flour to the citizens at reasonable rates,” said, Abdul Rahim, President Swat Traders Federation.