SARGODHA:Commissioner Sargodha Division Hafiz Shaukat Ali on Wednesday directed authorities to strictly prevent wheat smuggling from the division and ensure the availability of flour to consumers at government-fixed prices.
He issued the directions while chairing a video-link meeting to review measures against wheat and flour smuggling, the supply of flour at prescribed rates and arrangements made by the Food Department.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sargodha Sohail Akhtar Sukhera, Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry, deputy commissioners and district police officers of the other three districts, an R.O. Special Branch, the Deputy Director Food and all District Food Controllers (DFCs) attended the meeting.
The commissioner said district-level teams comprising officials from the Food Department, police and Special Branch had been formed to monitor wheat transportation and prevent smuggling through coordinated enforcement.
He directed the administrations of Mianwali and Bhakkar to maintain strict surveillance along their border areas and immediately thwart any attempt at illegal transportation of wheat. He warned that any Food Department employee found involved in wheat smuggling would face immediate action without discrimination.
Hafiz Shaukat Ali said the Punjab government had banned the sale of 20-kilogram flour bags, with only 10kg and 15kg bags now permitted. He directed officials to ensure that 10kg flour bags were sold for Rs1,100 at government-designated outlets.
He further ordered that no vehicle carrying wheat or flour be allowed to leave the division without clearance of a permit from the relevant District Food Controller.
Referring to the chief minister’s directives, the commissioner stressed that flour must be supplied to consumers at controlled rates and instructed the relevant officers to maintain effective field monitoring.
RPO Sohail Akhtar Sukhera directed police officers to extend full cooperation to anti-smuggling teams. He also instructed district police officers to remove obstacles to enforcement operations and take indiscriminate legal action against those violating the law.
During the meeting, deputy commissioners and district police officers from all four districts briefed the participants on measures to prevent wheat and flour smuggling, monitoring arrangements and efforts to ensure the availability of flour at government-fixed prices.