With officials of Rawalpindi Food Department busy in Anti Dengue campaign, profiteers in Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas have raised the price of 20 kg flour bag by Rs70 to Rs 80 putting the citizens under strain.
People said that whenever they go for filing a complaint about increase in flour prices, the officials of food department are absent. A justification is given that they are busy campaigning against dengue. They said despite repeated complaints no action is being taken against profiteers, accusing that the officials were in league with the retailers.
They said that the food inspectors were busy in raids on hotels, bakeries and other food outlets to check the quality of food items while the flourmills and flour dealers have been given a free hand. As a result the ex-mill price of 20 kg flour bag has been raised from Rs 740 to Rs 850.
The citizens talking to INP said the price has been raised despite the fact that the government has not increased the price of wheat released from its stock and there is also no increase in electricity rates, while excess quantity of wheat is available in stories and open market.
Shopkeepers on the other hand say that the price of 20 kg bag is likely to go up to Rs 900 by next month.
Food department officials say that they would take action against those selling flour at more than the fixed rate but so far there has been no practical action on the ground.
