Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday presided a meeting regarding increasing price of Atta (flour) at Chief Minister House. The meeting was attended among others by Sindh Food Minister Mir Nadir Ali Magsi, Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Siddiq Memon, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Arif Ahmed Khan, Secretary Food Aftab Ahmed Memon, and others.
Chief Minister Sindh took serious notice of increase in prices of atta in the province and said that this trend of illegal profiteering, unauthorised hoarding and disposal/sale of wheat on excess prices to any other country can not be tolerated at any cost. He warned the traders, businessmen and salesmen to refrain from increasing the price of atta and said that the provincial government has decided to provide subsidy of Rs 68 crore for two months on wheat so as to provide flour on reasonable rate to poor people of province.
Shah added that government machinery at all levels will ensure control of price of flour in the province. It was decided that Sindh Food Department will provide wheat to flour mills on subsidised rate and flour ex-mill price will be Rs 33 per kg while the flour will be sold at Rs 34.50 per kg on retail to consumers and people. Chief Minister Sindh directed all Deputy commissioners of the province to ensure provision of flour on subsidised rate of Rs 34.50 per kg to people and all out efforts and measures be evolved to follow and implement the decisions in letter and spirit.
He further directed that special magisterial teams be formed to have constant vigilance on supply of wheat and atta, and supply of atta to people on price fixed by the government. It was decided that those retailers, traders and businessmen, who will violate the decisions and directives, will be dealt accordingly. It was decided that stern action will be taken against violators. Earlier, the Secretary Food Mr Aftab Ahmed Memon informed the meeting that there is 6,80,239 metric tones wheat with Food Department.-PR
