Unnecessary increase in flour price irks CM.

LAHORE -- Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken strict notice of the unnecessary increase in flour price in some districts of the province and directed to take immediate administrative measures for stabilizing the flour prices.

He directed to immediately remove the Food Department officers involved in irregularities and negligence from duty. Usman Buzdar said that he will not tolerate the unnecessary increase in flour price at any cost.

On the strict instructions of Chief Minister, Punjab Food Department initiated crackdown and took action against 376 flour mills and imposed an overall fine of Rs 90.6million besides suspending the license of 15 flour mills along with suspending the quota of wheat of 180 mills. Action has also been initiated against the food department officers for showing negligence in their duties and four such officers have been removed from their posts.

According to officials, District Food Controller Gujranwala Rohail Butt and District Food Controller Sialkot Nasrullah Khan Nadeem have been suspended while Deputy Director Food Department Faisalabad Kamran Bashir and District Food Controller Vehari Sagheer Ahmed have been removed from their posts.

Also, on the instructions of Chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, at least 126 sale points have been set up in different districts of the province for ensuring the smooth supply of flour.

Flour is being supplied on the ex-mill rate at 21 sale points in Lahore division through trucks. Similarly, 55 sale points have been set up in Rawalpindi division where flour is being provided at control rate. Moreover, flour is being provided at nine sale points in Gujranwala division at control rate through trucks, at 17 sale points in Bahawalpur division and at 24 sale points in district Sialkot where flour is being provided at control rate.

Usman Buzdar said that availability of flour to the people at fixed rates will...