The supply of unhealthy flour to ten Ramzan Bazaars situated in cantonment and city collectively has created strong resentment among the people. The inspection teams of food department collected samples of the flour being sold at Ramzan Bazaars for verification.
Punjab government has allotted a specific share of wheat to flour mills to ensure ample supply of quality flour to the Ramzan Bazaars on subsidised rates. In this regard, the food department recently decided to supply 11,000 flour bags to the Ramzan bazaars on a daily basis.
The food department received complaints that the flour mills are merging a large ratio of expired wheat flour with a small quantity of good quality flour. The sub-standard flour is then supplied to the Ramzan Bazaars.
Taking serious notice of the reports, Punjab Food Department Secretary Dr Pervez has directed the District Food Department to take action against the owners of these flour mills and also examine the flour which is supplied to the Ramzan Bazaars on a daily basis.
The District Food Controller Mehr Ijaz, along with his team, visited ten Ramzan Bazaars situated in the city and cantonment areas. He gave directives to the inspection teams to determine the weight of flour bags and also inspect the quality of flour. “The food department does not allow the supply of unhealthy flour to Ramzan Sasta Bazaars and forbids any kind of compromise with the health of the people,” said Ijaz.
The inspection teams of the food department gathered 182 samples of flour from 46 flour mills. These samples were sent to the forensic laboratories for analysis. The food department says the flour mills responsible for supplying sub-standard flour to Ramzan Bazaars will be sealed. “The owners of these flour mills will be charged with a heavy fine for playing with lives of the people and blowing dust into the eyes of the government,” the food department said, and added, “Their allotted share of wheat will also be confiscated”.
