Atta chakki owners go on indefinite strike

LAHORE: To lodge protest against what Atta Chakki (wheat grinders) owners called district administration's continued crackdown, an indefinite strike has been announced. According to the Atta Chakki Owners Association, raids are being carried out by the administration despite full cooperation by the wheat grinders. “Our members are being harassed by filing cases against them,” said ACOA Secretary General Abdul Rahman. He said their members are willing to sell wheat flour in line with instructions of the administration provided they are supplied with wheat from government warehouses.

Meanwhile, there have been complaints of short supply of flour in the open market. The government has yet to fully restore formal channels of flour supply to the open market.

In a crackdown on profiteers, the city administration on Wednesday fined at least three flour mills for selling the commodity at Rs 76 per kg against the official rate of Rs 45.

The Punjab government has launched a province-wide crackdown on wheat hoarders and profiteers to control wheat flour prices. The provincial government has decided to take strict action against those involved in creating artificial shortage of flour.