KARACHI, March 18: Rates of the wheat flour continued the upward flight in the city despite price checking campaign launched by the city government under the directives of the governor and city nazim.

Flour No. 2.5 was sold at Rs18 per kg followed by the same price of fine atta, while shopkeepers were enjoying the liberty to charge Rs170-190 for a 10 kg bag of fine atta. The Sindh government's that there was wheat flour shortage and was being sold at affordable rates had proved wrong.

The government officials would have encountered the real truth on Wednesday during the launch of the zealous campaign against the profiteers and shopkeepers, when they would have found that atta was being sold from Rs17 to Rs19 per kg, whereas in many areas the commodity was not even available to them what to say of the common people.

The deputy district officers (revenue) have sent reports to the Sindh and city governments regarding the arrest of nine people in the mega city's 18 prominent towns. In many towns, the report admitted, the non-availability of atta No. 2.5 at the shops.

According to the reports, received from all the DDOs (revenue), two shopkeepers, Haroon and Humayun, were arrested in Saddar area for selling atta at Rs19 and Rs17 per kg. In North Nazimabad, five stores in Block A, M and E were visited where atta was not available and warnings were issued.

In New Karachi, officials visited five stores where atta was not available. Razzak, Salman, Asghar, Farooq and Ilyas were arrested for selling atta at exorbitant rates in Lyari. Officials found no atta in Manzoor Colony, Chanesar Goth, Soldier Bazar and Mehmoodabad.

Gulshan Town DDO had reported that Imam Bux of Gulshan Atta Chakki was arrested for selling the commodity at Rs19 per kg. In Gulberg Town, the officials visited five stores at Water Pump where atta was not available.

Two persons - Shabir Raza of Rehman Super Store and Nadeem of Bismillah Store - were arrested for selling atta at Rs19 and Rs17 per kg in Shah Faisal Town. The DDO looking after Liaquatabad reported the visit of officials at various stores, and admitted the absence of the much sought after commodity.

An official of the city government said that a monitoring committee, headed by the DDO, had been set up in each town. Four inspectors of various departments - quality control, weight and measures, food department and price control - were also taking part in the price checking move.

Market sources said that the campaign launched by the city government and Sindh government to check the prices may come under fire as the DDOs and even other officials had not been invested with any powers.

They said that it was not clear that under what powers the officials were conducting raids and arresting shopkeepers for selling atta at higher rates. The officials of the city government were tight lipped to give any reply to the query, but said that the officials were bound to take extreme measures against the shopkeepers on the government directives.

A city government official claimed that the government had fixed the price of No.2.5 atta at Rs12 per kg and shopkeepers were being arrested for selling it at higher rates.

The government had taken a late decision to act against the profiteers when the wheat flour crisis had reached an alarming situation and consumers were bound to take the costly ride for they had no other option.

The arrest of few shopkeepers in the mega metropolis itself reflected the performance of the government. The sources said that the price checking campaign was an eyewash and was launched just to portray a better image of the government.

The government had again not done the homework properly by checking the go downs of shopkeepers and flour millers where sizable quantity had been piled up to make timely windfalls.

The price checking campaign may remain a short term move as the atta crisis, after reaching its peak, in February and March, was likely to fade away in the next week or so.

The government should have reacted much earlier to arrest the accelerating rates of the wheat flour. Meanwhile, a meeting of the cell, set up by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at the Governor's House, was held on Wednesday to review the atta crisis in the city.

The meeting, presided over by Principal Secretary Akhtar Zamin, noted with satisfaction that atta was being sold at Rs11 and Rs11.50 per kg at Bachat Bazaars and special stalls, respectively. As many as 53 special stalls have been set up in the city.

The meeting also reviewed the arrangements regarding effective legal actions to be taken against hoarders and profiteers. Consumers have been asked to lodge their complaints with Additional Secretary Aftab Khatri on phone No. 9205050 regarding price hike.

The meeting was attended by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Hyderabad Nazim Makhdoom Raifiquzaman, Food Department Secretary Mir Mohammad Paniyar, DCO, Mir Hussain Ali and representatives of the flour millers' association.

EFFORTS FAIL: Sindh Government and City District Government Karachi (CDGK)'s new efforts to control the increasing price of flour through inspection in different parts of the city by CDGK's officials does not seem to be bearing fruit as concerned officials are reluctant to do the job due to absence of powers, adds PPI.

Following directives of Sindh Government, City District Government Karachi (CDGK)'s officials have been assigned to visit different parts of city to keep a check on flour prices.

However CDGK officials are reluctant to do the job due to their inability to take action against profiteers and hoarders, well informed sources told PPI on Wednesday.

According to sources, a meeting of Sindh Government officials with Sindh Governor on Wednesday morning called for inspection of shops on daily basis and arrest those found involved in charging more than the notified prices of flour (The price is Rs.12 & 14 for two different brands of flour).

They said that Deputy District Officers (DDOs) Revenue of CDGK are reluctant to carry out inspections despite orders of government higher ups as due to absence of any powers, they think it is a futile practice.

"Verbal instructions cannot restrict the profiteers and hoarders from selling flour at the price of their own choice as they have no fear of punitive action from government authorities," they opined.

They observed that Sindh Government and CDGK are still wrangling over issue of magisterial powers as whether it should be given to concerned officials or not but are totally oblivious of people's suffering in the wake of continued price hikes.

They termed the new step to inspect the prices by visiting different parts of city an "eyewash" as no positive outcome is expected from such exercises. "DDOs Revenue can start their work assigned by government higher ups for the time being but a long term practice without any powers cannot be expected from them," sources added.

The DAWN