Flour supply in Punjab improves.

Byline: Iqtidar Gilani

Lahore -- The situation of flour supply has improved considerably across the province following corrective measures taken by the government, giving hopes of ending crises within a couple of days.

Besides taking steps for improving supply from flourmills, the Punjab government on Monday decided to provide wheat to grinding units at government rates with the condition of selling 'chakki atta' at Rs45 per kilogram.

From Tuesday (today) onward, small grinding units will also be provided wheat according to their demand, revealed an official having knowledge of the latest development.

'Majority of the grinding units have stopped operation. Those operating are selling chakki atta from Rs65 to Rs70 per kilogram. This led to huge difference between the prices of flour sold by flourmills and Chakki owners. Now the government will provide wheat and the small units will charge acceptable grinding rates', he said, adding, wheat would be provided not only to grinding units in Lahore but all over Punjab.

In Lahore alone, more than 70 major grinding units are selling chakki atta in different localities.

Civil administration set up stalls at model bazaars besides sending truckloads of flour to designated places across the province including Lahore that helped reducing gap between demand and supply of essential commodity.

As many as 126 sale points were set up in different districts of the province for ensuring smooth supply of flour including 55 in Rawalpindi division. Flour was provided at 9 sale points in Gujranwala, 17 in Bahawalpur...