Upper Dir admin begins supply of subsidised flour

DIR: The Upper Dir district administration has set up several distribution points, providing subsidised flour to the residents.

On directives of Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal Khattak, the assistant commissioners issued permits to shopkeepers who now sell the commodity to locals on rates fixed by the government authorities.

The distribution points have been established at Dir, Sheringal, Kalkot, Wari and Barawal. The residents have been facing difficulties in getting subsidised flour from Dir flourmills and they had to wait for hours in long queues, especially those customers from remote areas and the elderly. And even after wait, many had to return without purchasing a bag of flour.The assistant commissioners of Dir, Wari, and Sheringal now visit the distribution points on a daily basis and inquire both customers and shopkeepers about the situation. Several residents have lauded the administration’s effort for ensuring flour supply.Meanwhile, the AC, Sheringal, Muhammad Saqib Khan, found three shopkeepers guilty of selling flour on a rate higher than that fixed by the government and fined them Rs30,000. He asked people to approach his office or call him on his cell phone to complain against overcharging.

The deputy commissioner also warned flour dealers to avoid from creating artificial shortage of flour otherwise they would be punished as per the law.