Haripur millers halt subsidised flour supply over 'harassment' by official.

HARIPUR -- Haripur is going to witness shortage of subsidised wheat flour from Tuesday (today) as the local millers on Monday decided not to lift the daily wheat quota from food department's godowns in protest against alleged unbecoming behaviour of the assistant commissioner, headquarters.

In a letter to the district food controller, the flour mills association comprising 12 units said despite best efforts to ensure provision of subsidised flour to residents, they were being 'harassed' and fined heavily without any 'justifiable' reasons.

In the letter, the millers announced they would observe strike against AC headquarters Ms Labiqa Akram from Tuesday for an indefinite period.

The association's president Faisal Mehmood told Dawn on contact the decision was taken against the 'harassment' and 'unjustified' fines on flour millers during last few days.

He said under the rules, administrative officers were bound to conduct visits to flour mills accompanied by food department officials, but additional assistant commissioners and assistant commissioner headquarters never bothered to follow rules.

He said many mill owners were fined from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 for allegedly violating SOPs.

Mr Mehmood said his mills was fined for Rs100,000 for the only offence that a sale point owner could not lift his quota of 67 bags of 10kg flour as one of his family members had passed away, and he lifted his two-day quota the second day.

He accused Ms Akram of punishing...