Staff Reporter
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, keeping in view the artificial wheat shortage created
by hoarders in the province, has ordered crackdown against the traders so that illegally stored grain
could be floated in the market to stabilize the price of atta.He took this decision while presiding over a
meeting on wheat shortage and increasing price of atta here on Monday at CM House. The meeting was
attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Minister Food Hari Ram, Minister Agriculture Ismail Rahu,
Advisor to CM Murtaza Wahab, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secreatry Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Food
Laiq Ahmed, Secretary Forest Raheem Soomro and others.The chief minister said that he has reports
that some traders have hoarded wheat in their godowns. therefore, wheat prices have increased in the
market. "We can't allow poor people of this province at the mercy of hoarders," he said and directed
chief secretary to start operation [against hoarders] under the guidance of concerned commission and
whatever force, police or Rangers, they need must be provided to them. Briefing the chief minister,
Secretary Food Laiq Ahmed said that the as on Jan 13, 20120, the stock position was 405,938.549 tons
of wheat was lying in all the six regions. They include Karachi 10,374.333 tons, Hyderabad 24,948.0 tons,
Mirpurkhas 1615.336 tons, Shaheed Benazirabad 58,524.593 tons, Sukkur 179,709.477 tons and Larkana
130,766.810 tons. Out of which the food departmet has released 35,805.607 tons. The chief minister
was told that as on Jan 13, 2020 the atta proice was Rs43 per kg in all the regions. At this, the chief
minister said that at present about 300,000 tons of wheat was still in the godowns of the food
department and the provincial government released 130,000 tons of wheat in the city every month..
